1

In 2012, the U.S. soybean industry had sales of $38.7 billion, accounting for 

10 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales. Soybeans are grown in the central 

and eastern part of the country, with production most concentrated in a small 

number of 

north central 

states. The 

2012 Census 

of Agriculture 

provides a 

comprehensive 

picture of 

the soybean 

industry, as 

well as the 

oilseed and 

grain sector 

overall.

Soybean Farming 

A $38.7 billion industry, 10 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales.

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

www.agcensus.usda.gov

(800)727-9540

ACH12-24/March 2015

Highlights

Ten states. . . 

. . . accounted for 77 percent of 

U.S. soybean sales in 2012.

Top States in Sales

($ billions)

Iowa 5.4

Illinois 5.0

Minnesota 3.8

Indiana 3.0

Ohio 2.7

Nebraska 2.5

Missouri 2.0

North Dakota 2.0

Arkansas 1.9

South Dakota 1.7

Soybean Sales as Percent of Agriculture Sales, by County, 2012

percent

< 1

1 - 9

10 - 24

25 - 49

50 +

U.S. = 9.8%

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Industry Size, Value, and Location

Soybean sales were 91 percent higher in 2012 than in 2007, when the last 

agriculture census was conducted. During that time, number of farms with 

soybean sales increased 6 percent, and U.S. soybean production increased 

13 percent, from 2.6 billion bushels to 2.9 billion. (Table 1)

Table 1

U.S. Soybean Farming, 2007 and 2012

2007 2012 % Change

20.3 38.7 +91

285,089 301,343 +6

Sales ($ billions)

Farms with sales

Production

 (billion bushels) 2.6 2.9 +13

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.
2 USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Farm Characteristics

Eighty-three percent of farms with soybean sales were 

family or individually operated, accounting for 67 percent of 

sales. Partnerships (including family partnerships) were 

9 percent of operations and 19 percent of sales. (Table 2)

Table 2

Soybean Farms by Type of Operation, 2012

 % of Operations % of Sales

Family/Individual 83 67

Partnership 9 19

Corporation 7 13

Other 1 1

All 100 100

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Iowa had nearly 7,000 more farms with soybeans 

than next-ranked Illinois, and also led in soybean 

production, with 

407 million bushels 

produced in 2012. 

Illinois was second 

(371 million bushels), 

followed by Minnesota 

(294 million bushels). 

These three states 

accounted for 

37 percent of both 

production and sales. 

North Dakota and 

Illinois each had four 

of the top ten counties 

in soybean sales.

Top Counties in Soybean Sales 

($ millions)

Cass, ND 201.7

McLean, IL 190.6

Stutsman, ND 176.1

Champaign, IL 163.6

Richland, ND 150.9

Polk, MN 149.2

Brown, SD 149.1

Livingston, IL 148.2

Iroquois, IL 143.7

Barnes, ND 143.4

Does not include counties withheld to avoid 

disclosing individual data. 

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Oilseed and Grain Farming (including soybeans) 

In 2012, there were 369,332 U.S. farms with more than 

half of their income coming from sales of oilseed and 

grain crops, including soybeans. Of these specialized 

farms, 253,654 had soybean sales of $35.5 billion, which 

accounted for 92 percent of the $38.7 billion in total U.S. 

soybean sales.

Production Costs. Total production costs on specialized 

oilseed and grain farms were $93.1 billion in 2012, a 

75 percent increase over 2007, when production expenses 

were $53.1 billion. The largest expenses were fertilizer, 

at $18.8 billion, and cash rent for land and buildings, 

at $13.4 billion. Per farm average costs were $251,982, 

a 60 percent increase from 2007.

Producer Characteristics. The 2012 Census of Agriculture 

identified characteristics of those responsible for the dayto-day operation of oilseed and grain farms. These farmers 

were slightly younger than principal operators of all farms. 

Four percent were women, a smaller share than the 

14 percent for all farms. Sixty-six percent reported farming 

as their primary occupation. Thirty-seven percent earned 

less than a quarter of their income from farming in 2012, 

while 13 percent earned their entire income from farming. 

(Table 3)

Table 3

Oilseed and Grain Producers: Key Characteristics, 2007 and 2012

(principal operators of farms specializing in oilseed and grain farming)

2007 2012

All Farms

2012

percent

Gender

Male / Female 95 / 5 96 / 4 86 / 14

Age 

Under 45 years 19 19 16

45 to 64 years 53 52 51

65 years and older 28 29 33

Primary Occupation

Farming / Other 66 / 34 66 / 34 48 / 52

Percent of Income from Farming

< 25% 40 37 70

25% to 49% 14 13 8

50% to 74% 18 19 9

75% to 99% 17 18 7

100% 11 13 6

Average Age (years) 56.1 56.6 58.3

Principal operator is the person responsible for day-to-day operation of the farm. A farm “specializing in oilseed and grain production” has more than half of its sales come from that commodity.

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

To learn more about soybean farming, the oilseeds and grain sector, the 2012 Census of Agriculture, and how to access 

national, state, and county data, go to:

www.agcensus.usda.gov