Top States in Farm

Expenditures ($ bil)

California 42.7

Iowa 30.4

Texas 23.0

Nebraska 21.1

Kansas 19.9

About the Survey

Data presented here are based 

on the survey of farm production 

expenditures the National Agricultural 

Statistics Service conducts annually in 

the 48 contiguous states as part of the 

Agricultural Resource Management 

Survey (ARMS). 

ARMS provides annual data on the 

financial health of the farm sector and 

farm household finances. For more on 

the information ARMS provides, go to 

www.nass.usda.gov/go/arms.

Access all farm expenditure data 

through the Quick Stats database 

(https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov).

U.S. Farm Production 

Expenditures, 2019

NASS Highlights July 2020 • No. 2020-8

Total and average per 

farm expenditures up

Total and average per farm production expenditures in the United States 

increased in 2019. Expenditures were mixed in regions, economic classes,

and farm types.

Total Farm Expenditures

Total expenditures by U.S. farms (not including Alaska and Hawaii) were

$357.8 billion in 2019, up 1.1% from $354.0 billion in 2018. (Fig. 1) As Table 1 

shows, five expenditure categories (feed, livestock/poultry/related expenses, 

farm services, labor, and rent) accounted for 58.6% of 2019 farm expenditures. 

Fig. 1. U.S. Total Farm Expenditures, 2009 – 2019 ($ billion)

2019

357.8

2018

354.0

2017

357.8

2016

346.9

2015

362.8

2014

397.6

2013

367.3

2012

360.1

2011

318.7

2010

289.1

2009

287.4

Source: USDA NASS.

Table 1. Farm Expenditures, by Category, 2019 ($ billion and percent)

$ billion percenta

Feed 59.4 16.6

Livestock, poultry, and related expenses 42.8 12.0

Farm services 42.8 12.0

Labor 34.8 9.7

Rent 29.7 8.3

Fertilizer, lime, and soil conditioners 22.3 6.2

Seeds and plants 21.2 5.9

Farm supplies and repairs 17.6 4.9

Agricultural chemicals 15.5 4.3

Farm improvements and construction 13.5 3.8

Taxes 13.4 3.7

Fuel 12.3 3.4

Other expenses 32.5 9.1

Total 357.8 100

a

May not add to 100% due to rounding.

Source: USDA NASS.

Feed, at $59.4 

billion, was the 

largest expense 

item, accounting 

for 16.6% of farm 

expenditures.

www.nass.usda.gov

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
Twelve categories accounted for 90.9% of the total. 

“Other expenses” includes tractors and self-propelled 

machinery, interest, other machinery, trucks/autos, and 

miscellaneous capital expenses.

Feed (up $5.6 billion) as well as rent and labor (both up 

$9 billion) were the three categories with the largest 

increases between 2018 and 2019. In percentage terms, 

the categories with the largest increases were feed (up 

16.6%), followed by labor (up 9.7%), and rent (up 8.3%).

Between 2018 and 2019, expenditures by crop farms 

decreased by 0.1% and expenditures by livestock farms 

increased by 2.4%. In 2019, crop farm expenditures 

($181.6 billion) exceeded livestock farm expenditures 

($176.2 billion). (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2. Total Farm Expenditures, Crop and Livestock Farms, 

2009 – 2019 ($ billion)

 Crop Livestock

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

$181.6 

$176.2 

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Source: USDA NASS.

Per Farm Average Expenditures

Per farm average expenditures in 2019 were $177,564,

up 1.4% from 2018. Expenditures were higher for crop 

farms ($192,451) than for livestock farms ($164,447).

(Fig. 3)

Fig. 3. Per Farm Average Expenditures, Crop and Livestock Farms, 

2009 – 2019 ($ per farm)

 Crop Livestock

$192,451

$164,447

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Source: USDA NASS.

Per Farm Average Expenditures, 

Selected States, 2019 

($ per farm)

California 610,801 

Nebraska 460,832 

Iowa 356,155 

Kansas 339,915 

Minnesota 262,500 

North Carolina 250,974 

Illinois 218,417 

Arkansas 202,600 

Washington 199,017 

Indiana 184,911 

Georgia 177,952 

Wisconsin 162,558 

Florida 128,059 

Missouri 105,882 

Texas 93,259 

Source: USDA NASS.

Regional Shares of U.S. Farm Production Expenditures, 2019

(not including Alaska and Hawaii)

U.S. = $357.8 billion

Midwest 31%

Plains 25%

West 22%

Atlantic 12%

South 10%

Source: USDA NASS.

Of 15 large 

agricultural 

states, California 

had the highest 

per farm 

expenditures.

In 2019, the Midwest region accounted for 

31% of U.S. total production expenditures, 

with expenses of $111.5 billion, up 6.4% 

from 2018. In the West region, 2019 

expenses were $79.5 billion, up 4.4%. In 

the Atlantic region, 2019 expenses were 

$42.1 billion, down 6.4%. The South saw a 

1.2% increase, while the Plains region saw 

a 4.2% decrease in expenses.

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www.nass.usda.gov