1

In 2012, the U.S. sorghum industry had sales of $1.8 billion, accounting for 

0.4 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales. Although many states produce and 

sell sorghum, Texas and Kansas together accounted for 75 percent of U.S. 

sorghum 

sales. The 

2012 Census 

of Agriculture 

provides a 

comprehensive 

picture of 

the sorghum 

industry, as 

well as the 

oilseed and 

grain sector 

overall. 

Sorghum Farming 

Sales up 7 percent since 2007; production for grain and silage both down.

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

www.agcensus.usda.gov

(800)727-9540

ACH12-23/March 2015

Highlights

Two states. . . 

. . . accounted for three fourths 

of sorghum sales in 2012.

Top States in Sales

($ millions)

Texas 743.3

Kansas 579.4

Louisiana 75.4

Arkansas 70.9

South Dakota 39.7

Oklahoma 34.4

Nebraska 26.2

Mississippi 25.1

Missouri 21.4

North Carolina 20.9

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

percent

< 1

1 - 4

5 - 9

10 - 14

15 +

U.S. = 0.4%

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Industry Size, Value, and Location

Sorghum sales were 7 percent higher in 2012 than in 2007, when the last 

agriculture census was conducted. During the same period, sorghum production 

for grain and for silage both declined. U.S. farmers produced 264.3 million 

bushels of grain sorghum in 2012, down 45 percent from 2007. They produced 

5.6 million tons 

of silage, down 

2 percent from 

2007. The number 

of farms with 

sorghum sales 

declined 

16 percent.

(Table 1)

Table 1

U.S. Sorghum Farming, 2007 and 2012

2007 2012 % Change

1.7 1.8 + 7

27,142 22,908 - 16

Sales ($ billions)

Farms with sales

Production

 For grain (million bushels) 482.5 264.3 - 45

 For silage (million tons) 5.8 5.6 - 2

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

Farm Characteristics

Seventy-five percent of farms with sorghum sales were 

family or individually operated, accounting for 57 percent 

of sales. Partnerships (including family partnerships) were 

14 percent of operations and 31 percent of sales. (Table 2)

Table 2

Sorghum Farms by Type of Operation, 2012

 % of Operations % of Sales

Family/Individual 75 57

Partnership 14 31

Corporation 9 11

Other 2 1

All 100 100

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Texas led the country in sorghum for grain production, 

producing 114.9 million bushels in 2012. Kansas was 

second, with 

87.0 million bushels, 

and Louisiana third 

(12.5 million bushels). 

Texas and Kansas 

together accounted 

for 76 percent of grain 

production and 

75 percent of grain 

and silage sales.

The top seven

counties in sales

were in Texas.

Top Counties in Sorghum Sales 

($ millions)

Hidalgo, TX 63.6

Willacy, TX 50.4

Nueces, TX 41.7

Cameron, TX 37.5

San Patricio, TX 32.7

Moore, TX 24.0

Wharton, TX 23.0

Ford, KS 22.3

Gray, KS 21.9

Jewell, KS 21.8

Does not include counties withheld to avoid 

disclosing individual data. 

Source: USDA NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture.

Oilseed and Grain Farming (including sorghum) 

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 sorghum. Of these specialized farms, 

16,549 had combined sorghum sales of $1.4 billion, which 

accounted for 82 percent of the $1.8 billion in total U.S. 

sorghum 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 sorghum 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