Civilian employment in the food and fiber system fell from over 21 percent of the workforce in 1975 to 18.5 percent in 1985. The system's share of gross national product (GNP) also fell from 20.4 percent in 1975 to 17.5 percent in 1985. The system generated $700.8 billion in GNP and employed 21.4 million full-time workers in 1985. This report reviews procedures used to estimate income and employment in the food and fiber system and their usefulness in economic policy and decisionmaking.