NATURAL RESOURCES
'Green industry' outstripping traditional crops in total sales

Jim Barlow, Life Sciences Editor
(217) 333-5802; b-james3@uiuc.edu

Gary Beaumont, Extension Communications Specialist
(217) 333-9440; beaumont@uiuc.edu

2/1/2001

Photo by Bill Wiegand Gary Rolfe, professor and head of the UI department of natural resources and environmental sciences, said preliminary estimates show that the green industry exceeds the more traditional agricultural commodities in economic importance in 1999.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- With about $2.9 billion in sales, the "green industry" in Illinois has blossomed, surprisingly outdoing traditional agricultural front-runners corn and soybeans and even the combined production of beef and pork, University of Illinois researchers say.

A comprehensive assessment discovered that in 1999 more than 9,000 green industry businesses -- lawn-care, landscaping, garden centers and related businesses -- were active in Illinois, with more than 2.3 million end-users of their products and services.

The findings resulted from a survey of businesses, agencies, institutions and others who produce, maintain, use, or sell plant materials to enhance human environments.

"Preliminary estimates show that, in 1999, the product and service sectors of Illinois' green industry generated nearly $2.9 billion in sales," said Gary Rolfe, professor and head of the UI department of natural resources and environmental sciences.

"These sales figures place the green industry ahead of the more traditional agricultural commodities in economic importance to the state's economy."

The green industry product and service sectors employed almost 74,000 workers with an annual payroll exceeding $1 billion. Overall, the green industry employed almost 160,000 people with a payroll above $1.74 billion, Rolfe said.

In comparison, total cash receipts from corn were $2.56 billion, soybeans at $2.1 billion, hogs and pigs at $646 million and cattle at $490 million.

"I don't think anyone had a clue that the green industry was as large as it turned out to be," Rolfe said. "It's a very important piece of information that could help influence legislative initiatives and bring more research dollars to this important sector."

The fair market value of all assets directly associated with producing, selling, or maintaining green areas and plants in Illinois was put at more than $8 billion. The green industry's product sector generated more than $1.6 billion in total receipts.

More than 57 percent of these sales were from growers selling at wholesale, retail, or both; 42 percent of these product sales came from retailers. The industry's service sector generated more than $1.6 billion in total receipts, with more than 88 percent attributed to landscape contractors and lawn-care firms.

The survey estimated that the maintained turfgrass area in Illinois totaled about 1.5 million acres. Single-family homes accounted for more than 60 percent of the total. Illinois consumers also spent $2.89 billion to purchase and maintain indoor and outdoor plant materials including turfgrass.

More than 12,000 questionnaires were distributed; 31 percent were returned. The study was funded, in part, by a coalition of green-industry professional associations.