The right crop production statistics can help you analyze the past and understand the agriculture industry’s future. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that the year 2021 will yield a record-breaking $230.1 billion in crop receipts for the United States. The spike is due to a significant rise in returns from corn, soybeans and wheat. If this projection holds, the return will be the highest for the farming community since 2012.
You can begin to analyze the future of your crops and invest in your next potential season with this CropCare® quick guide to 2021 crop farming statistics.
Five Most Profitable Farming Crops in the U.S.
There are several crops that have high returns for farmers. The five most valuable cash crops in the U.S. include:
- Lavender: Lavender is a high-profit cash crop because it takes five to eight years to mature for harvest and there are over 450 varieties.
- Saffron: Saffron is the most valuable spice in the world, retailing at $30 an ounce due to the labor-intensive handpicking process.
- Gourmet garlic: Regular garlic often retails in the U.S. at $1.50 to $2.50 per pound while hand-planted gourmet garlic can reach prices up to $16.00 per pound.
- Chives: Chives typically sell anywhere from $8.00 to $18.00 a pound and are commonly grown on farms in the U.S. since they are easy to grow in most climates.
- Basil: Basil is a valuable spice and medicinal ingredient, selling on the U.S. market at prices ranging from $6.25 a pound to $10.00 a pound or more.
Five Biggest Farming States in the U.S.
By the end of the year 2020, five states produced the most farm goods in the U.S. These states included:
- California: California produced more than $49 billion in cash receipts and represented a 13.7% share of U.S. receipts for all commodities.
- Iowa: Iowa generated $25.6 billion in cash receipts, representing a 7.2% share of all U.S. commodity receipts.
- Nebraska: Nebraska has a 5.8% share of all U.S. commodity receipts with $20.5 billion in cash receipts generated in 2020.
- Texas: Texas produced 5.6% of all American commodity receipts and generated more than $20 billion in cash receipts.
- Kansas: Kansas had 4.7% of the share of all commodities in the U.S. by producing $16.2 billion in cash receipts.
Most Popular Crops in the U.S.
Several significant cash crops make up a large portion of U.S. farm production. The top sources of cash crop cash receipts include:
- Corn: The U.S. uses corn in 95% of feed grain as an energy source for livestock and as a major ingredient for food products like alcohol and cereal.
- Cotton: The U.S. ranks as the third-largest producer of cotton in the world and the leading exporter of cotton, generating $21 billion in revenue annually.
- Fruit and tree nuts: The U.S. generates an average of $25 billion in farm cash receipts from fruit and tree nuts.
- Rice: The U.S. is one of the world’s leading rice exporters. Almost half of the global market’s sales volume comes from rice produced in the U.S annually.
Find High-Quality Farm Equipment at CropCare®
Need to find equipment solutions for your cash crop? CropCare® has innovative equipment designed for harvesting, weeding, planting, bed maintenance and much more.
Each piece of equipment comes with a limited one- to two-year warranty and we commit to stocking and selling service parts for multiple years. We also offer a dealer network with technical support, so you can always find help when you need it most.
Want to learn more? Reach out to the CropCare® team for a free quote by filling out our online contact form.
