Top States in Farm

Expenditures ($ billion)

California 41.9

Iowa 28.5

Texas 22.8

Nebraska 20.3

Minnesota 17.9

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, 2020

NASS Highlights July 2021 • No. 2021-3

Total and per farm 

expenditures up

Total and average per farm production expenditures in the United States 

increased again in 2020. Expenditures were mixed in regions, economic 

classes, and type of farms.

Total Farm Expenditures

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

$366.2 billion in 2020, up 2.3% from $357.8 billion in 2019. (Fig. 1) As 

Table 1 shows, five expenditure categories (feed, farm services, livestock/

poultry/related expenses, labor, and rent) accounted for 56.7% of 2020 farm 

expenditures. 

Fig. 1. U.S. Total Farm Expenditures, 2010 – 2020 ($ billion)

2020

366.2

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

Source: USDA NASS.

Table 1. Farm Expenditures, by Category, 2020 ($ billion and percent)

$ billion percenta

Feed 56.8 15.5

Farm services 44.7 12.2

Livestock, poultry, and related expenses 39.6 10.8

Labor 36.7 10.0

Rent 30.1 8.2

Fertilizer, lime, and soil conditioners 24.4 6.7

Seeds and plants 23.0 6.3

Farm supplies and repairs 19.4 5.3

Agricultural chemicals 16.5 4.5

Farm improvements and construction 14.4 3.9

Taxes 14.1 3.9

Tractors and self-propelled machinery 13.7 3.7

Fuel 11.1 3.0

Other expenses 21.7 5.9

Total 366.2 100

a

May not add to 100% due to rounding.

Source: USDA NASS.

Feed, at $56.8 

billion, was the 

largest expense 

item, accounting 

for 15.5% of farm 

expenditures.

www.nass.usda.gov

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service
Thirteen categories accounted for 94.1% of the total. 

"Farm services" includes expenses associated with 

medical supplies, veterinary services, electricity, 

purchased water for irrigation, other utilities, insurance 

for the farm, renting or leasing of tractors/equipment, 

vehicle registration and licensing, custom hauling, other 

custom work, professional or farm management services, 

general business expenses, marketing and storage, and 

office equipment. “Other expenses” includes interest, 

other machinery, trucks/autos, and miscellaneous capital 

expenses. 

Fertilizer, lime, and soil conditioners (up $2.1 billion) as 

well as labor and farm services (both up $1.9 billion) were 

the three categories with the largest increases from 2019 

to 2020.

Between 2019 and 2020, expenditures by crop farms 

increased by 7.6% and expenditures by livestock farms 

decreased 3.1%. In 2020, crop farm expenditures ($195.5 

billion) exceeded livestock farm expenditures ($170.7 

billion). (Fig. 2)

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

2010 – 2020 ($ billion)

 Crop Livestock

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

195.5 

170.7 

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Source: USDA NASS.

Per Farm Average Expenditures

Per farm average expenditures in 2020 were $182,130, 

up from 2019. Expenditures were higher for crop farms 

($207,404) than for livestock farms ($159,829). (Fig. 3) 

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

2010 – 2020 ($ per farm)

 Crop Livestock

208,571

160,203

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Source: USDA NASS.

Per Farm Average Expenditures, 

Selected States, 2020 

($ per farm)

California 602,155

Nebraska 445,714

Iowa 335,706

Kansas 296,741

Washington 272,958

Minnesota 265,407

North Carolina 250,435

Illinois 248,242

Arkansas 192,180

Indiana 188,468

Georgia 172,947

Wisconsin 167,935

Florida 163,158

Missouri 110,158

Texas 92,186

Source: USDA NASS.

Regional Shares of U.S. Farm Production Expenditures, 2020

(not including Alaska and Hawaii)

Source: USDA NASS.

Of 15 large 

agricultural 

states, California 

had the highest 

per farm 

expenditures 

and Texas had 

the lowest.

In 2020, the Midwest region accounted for 

31% of U.S. total production expenditures, 

with expenses of $112.8 billion, up 1.2% 

from 2019. In the West region, 2020 

expenses were $86.1 billion, up 7.6%. In 

the Plains region, 2020 expenses were 

$85.3 billion, down 2.9%. The Atlantic 

and South regions had expenses of $44.2 

billion and $37.8 billion, which were 

increases of 4.7% and 2.7%, respectively.

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

www.nass.usda.gov

U.S. = $366.2 billion

Midwest 31%

Plains 23%

West 24%

Atlantic 12%

South 10%