A new study of Alabama's agricultural and forestry industries says they contribute more than $70 billion annually to Alabama's economy and account for 22 percent of the state's workforce.
The Alabama Agribusiness Council and other groups joined Gov. Robert Bentley in releasing the study Tuesday.
Bentley said the last similar study was done in 1989, and the new study by Auburn University shows how important agriculture and forestry are to Alabama's economy.
State Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan said agriculture and forestry face many challenges in maintaining their important position. He said they include everything from urban sprawl eating up farmland to public policies being made by people who don't understand farming.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.