Top States in Farm

Expenditures ($ bil)

California 36.8

Iowa 25.3

Texas 25.1

Nebraska 24.2

Kansas 17.3

About this 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, 2018

NASS Highlights August 2019 • No. 2019-5

Total and per farm 

expenditures down

Total and per farm production expenditures in the United States decreased 

in 2018. Expenditures were down in most regions, most economic classes, 

and 10 of 17 spending categories. Expenditures decreased for both crop and 

livestock farms.

Total Farm Expenditures

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

$354.0 billion in 2018, down 1.1 percent from $357.8 billion in 2017, and 

down 11.0 percent from the peak in 2014. (Fig. 1) As Table 1 shows, five 

Fig. 1. U.S. Total Farm Expenditures, 2008 – 2018 ($ billion)

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

2008

307.0

Source: USDA NASS.

Table 1. Farm Expenditures, by Category, 2018 ($ billion and percent)

$ billion percenta

Feed 53.8 15.2

Livestock, poultry, and related expenses 46.3 13.1

Farm services 44.1 12.5

Labor 33.9 9.6

Rent 28.8 8.1

Fertilizer, lime, and soil conditioners 23.2 6.6

Seeds and plants 21.9 6.2

Farm supplies and repairs 17.2 4.9

Agricultural chemicals 15.4 4.4

Taxes 12.8 3.6

Farm improvements and construction 12.7 3.6

Fuel 12.3 3.5

Other expenses 31.6 8.9

Total 354.0 100.0

a

May not add to 100% due to rounding.

Source: USDA NASS.

Feed, at $53.8 

billion, was the 

largest expense 

item, accounting 

for 15.2 percent of 

farm expenditures.

www.nass.usda.gov

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
expenditure categories (feed, livestock/poultry/related 

expenses, farm services, labor, and rent) accounted 

for 58.5 percent of 2018 farm expenditures. Twelve 

categories accounted for 91.1 percent of the total. 

“Other expenses” refers to tractors and self-propelled 

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

miscellaneous capital expenses.

Livestock, poultry, and related expenses (up $4.7 billion) 

and fertilizer, lime, and soil conditioners (up $1.2 billion) 

were the two categories with the largest increases 

between 2017 and 2018. In percentage terms, the 

categories with the largest increases were miscellaneous 

capital expenses (up 15.0 percent), followed by livestock, 

poultry, and related expenses (up 11.3 percent) and 

fertilizer, lime, and soil conditioners (up 5.5 percent).

In 2018, crop farm expenditures ($181.9 billion) exceeded 

livestock farm expenditures ($172.1 billion). (Fig. 2)

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

2008 – 2018 ($ billion)

 Crop Livestock

100.0

140.0

180.0

220.0

$181.9 b 

$172.1 b

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Source: USDA NASS.

Per Farm Average Expenditures

Per farm average expenditures in 2018 were $175,169, 

down 0.4 percent from 2017. Expenditures were higher 

for crop farms ($208,026) than for livestock farms 

($150,108). (Fig. 3) 

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

2008 – 2018 ($ per farm)

 Crop Livestock

$208,026

$150,108

75,000

100,000

125,000

150,000

175,000

200,000

225,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Source: USDA NASS.

Per Farm Average Expenditures, 

Selected States, 2018 

($ per farm)

California 529,827

Nebraska 528,105

Iowa 294,419

Kansas 293,039

North Carolina 260,991

Minnesota 232,920

Washington 229,412

Illinois 222,917

Arkansas 192,000

Georgia 184,495

Indiana 180,481

Wisconsin 155,093

Florida 115,579

Missouri 108,579

Texas 101,538

Source: USDA NASS.

Regional Shares of U.S. Farm Production Expenditures, 2018

(not including Alaska and Hawaii)

U.S. = $354.0 billion

Midwest 30%

Plains 26%

West 21%

Atlantic 13%

South 10%

Source: USDA NASS.

Of fifteen large 

agricultural 

states, California 

had the highest 

per farm 

expenditures 

and Texas had 

the lowest.

In 2018, the Midwest region accounted 

for 30 percent of U.S. total production 

expenditures, with expenses of $104.7 

billion, down 2.8 percent from 2017. In the 

West region, 2018 expenses were $76.2 

billion, down 3.3 percent. In the Atlantic 

region, 2018 expenses of $45.0 billion 

were up 4.1 percent. Changes in the South 

and Plains regions between 2017 and 

2018 were less than 1 percent.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

www.nass.usda.gov