1

In 2012, the U.S. corn industry had sales of $67.3 billion, including both corn 

for grain and corn for silage. These sales accounted for 17 percent of total 

U.S. agriculture sales. Some corn production takes place in every region, but 

it is most 

concentrated in 

a small number 

of states. The 

2012 Census 

of Agriculture 

provides a 

comprehensive 

picture of the 

corn industry, 

as well as the 

oilseed and 

grain sector 

overall. 

Corn Farming 

A $67.3 billion industry, 17 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales.

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

www.agcensus.usda.gov

(800)727-9540

ACH12-22/March 2015

Highlights

Four states. . . 

. . . accounted for more than half 

of corn sales in 2012.

Top States in Sales

($ billions)

Iowa 11.7

Illinois 8.3

Minnesota 7.6

Nebraska 7.6

Indiana 4.1

South Dakota 3.1

Ohio 2.9

North Dakota 2.5

Wisconsin 2.3

Kansas 2.3

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

percent

< 1

1 - 9

10 - 24

25 - 49

50 +

U.S. = 17.0%

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Industry Size, Value, and Location

113 million tons 

of silage in 2012, 

up 9 percent since 

2007. (Table 1)

Combined sales of corn for grain and silage were 69 percent higher in 2012 

than in 2007, when the last agriculture census was conducted. During that time, 

production of corn for grain decreased and production for silage increased. 

U.S. farmers produced 10.3 billion bushels of corn for grain in 2012, compared 

to 12.7 billion in 

2007. They Table 1

produced U.S. Corn Farming, 2007 and 2012

2007 2012 % Change

39.9 67.3 + 69

347,540 361,744 +4

Sales ($ billions)

Farms with sales

Production

For grain (billion bushels) 12.7 10.3 - 19

For silage (million tons) 104 113 +9

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

Farm Characteristics

Eighty-three percent of farms with corn sales were family 

or individually operated, accounting for 65 percent of sales. 

Partnerships (including family partnerships) were 9 percent 

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

Table 2

Corn Farms by Type of Operation, 2012

 % of Operations % of Sales

Family/Individual 83 65

Partnership 9 19

Corporation 7 15

Other 1 1

All 100 100

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Iowa led the country in corn for grain production in 2012, 

producing 1.8 billion bushels, followed by Minnesota 

(1.3 billion bushels), 

Illinois (1.3 billion 

bushels), and Nebraska 

(1.2 billion bushels). 

These four states 

accounted for 

54 percent of the total 

corn for grain produced 

in the United States. 

These same states 

(in different rank order) 

together accounted for 

52 percent of corn sales 

(including silage). 

Top Counties in Corn Sales 

($ millions)

Kossuth, IA 331.6

Brown, SD 297.0

La Salle, IL 294.0

Renville, MN 282.2

Whiteside, IL 281.2

Iroquois, IL 277.3

Richland, ND 265.7

Cass, ND 261.6

Bureau, IL 254.3

McLean, IL 250.1

Does not include counties withheld to avoid 

disclosing individual data. 

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Oilseed and Grain Farming (including corn) 

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 corn. Of these specialized farms, 268,990 

had grain and silage corn sales of $59.2 billion, which 

accounted for 88 percent of the $67.3 billion in total U.S. 

corn 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 corn 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