1

In 2012, the U.S. wheat industry had sales of $15.8 billion, accounting for 

4 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales. Wheat production occurs in many states 

but is concentrated in the northern and southern plains and the northwestern 

states. The 

2012 Census 

of Agriculture 

provides a 

comprehensive 

picture of the 

wheat industry, 

as well as the 

oilseed and 

grain sector 

overall. 

Wheat Farming 

A $15.8 billion industry, up 48 percent since 2007.

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

www.agcensus.usda.gov

(800)727-9540

ACH12-25/March 2015

Highlights

Five states. . . 

. . . accounted for more than half 

of U.S. wheat production and 

sales in 2012.

Top States in Sales

($ billions)

North Dakota 2.5

Kansas 2.5

Montana 1.4

Washington 1.1

Oklahoma 0.9

South Dakota 0.8

Idaho 0.7

Texas 0.6

Minnesota 0.6

Colorado 0.5

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

percent

< 1

1 - 9

10 - 24

25 - 49

50 +

U.S. = 4.0%

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Industry Size, Value, and Location

Wheat sales were 48 percent higher in 2012 than in 2007, when the last 

agriculture census was conducted, while the number of farms with sales 

declined 8 percent during the same period. Wheat production increased 

10 percent to 2.2 billion bushels. (Table 1)

Table 1

U.S. Wheat Farming, 2007 and 2012

2007 2012 % Change

10.6 15.8 +48

159,527 147,022 - 8

Sales ($ billions)

Farms with sales

Production

 (billion bushels) 2.0 2.2 +10

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

Farm Characteristics

Seventy-eight percent of farms with wheat sales were 

family or individually operated, accounting for 60 percent 

of sales. Partnerships (including family partnerships) were 

12 percent of operations and 22 percent of sales. (Table 2)

Table 2

Wheat Farms by Type of Operation, 2012

 % of Operations % of Sales

Family/Individual 78 60

Partnership 12 22

Corporation 9 17

Other 1 1

All 100 100

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Kansas led the country in wheat production in 2012, 

with 359 million bushels produced, followed by North 

Dakota (328 million 

bushels), Montana 

(180 million bushels), 

Washington (141 million 

bushels), and Oklahoma 

(139 million bushels). 

These five states 

accounted for 53 percent 

of the wheat produced 

and 53 percent of U.S. 

wheat sales. The top 

ten counties are spread 

across five states.

Top Counties in Wheat Sales 

($ millions)

Whitman, WA 252.5

Lincoln, WA 144.3

Chouteau, MT 143.4

Cavalier, ND 136.7

Ward, ND 130.5

Hill, MT 127.0

Polk, MN 124.7

Umatilla, OR 123.9

Mclean, ND 119.5

Adams, WA 116.9

Does not include counties withheld to avoid 

disclosing individual data. 

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Oilseed and Grain Farming (including wheat) 

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 wheat. Of these specialized farms, 

110,339 had wheat sales of $13.1 billion, which accounted 

for 83 percent of the $15.8 billion in total U.S. wheat 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 wheat 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