Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $13.2bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
High stocks and global competition keep prices and profits under pressure
- US and global stocks of wheat, corn and sorghum are at multi-year highs, with the May 2025 USDA WASDE report projecting wheat supplies up and ending stocks at their highest level in six years. Despite record domestic food use, export competition from the EU, Russia and Canada is fierce, keeping prices low.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
A gradual recovery in revenue and market size is expected as headwinds ease
- After several years of margin compression and declining farm incomes, a gradual recovery in revenue and overall market size for wheat, barley, sorghum, oat and rye producers is forecast through the late 2020s. The USDA’s 2025 Baseline Projections anticipate a modest rebound in prices as global stocks normalize and demand continues to grow.
Biggest companies in the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($short_0)
2025 | Profit ($short_0)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Hard red winter wheat, Hard red spring wheat and Soft red winter wheat. Hard red winter wheat is the largest segment of the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming in the US.
Trends and Insights
Hard red winter wheat production is on the rise, but drought and trade pressures persist
- Hard red winter wheat is a major US wheat class largely grown in the Great Plains. It is prized for its high protein content and is primarily used in bread flour production.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The Wheat, Barley and Sorghum Farming industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in growing wheat, barley, sorghum, oats, rye and other grains (except corn and rice), or producing their seeds. It also includes farms that grow a mix of these grains and oilseeds, provided no single crop or crop family accounts for over half the farm’s total production value.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States include Growing hard red wheat, Growing soft red wheat, Growing white wheat, Growing Durum wheat, Growing sorghum, Growing barley, Growing oats and Growing rye.Companies
Companies covered in the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States include .Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States include genetically modified (gm), pesticide, herbicide, bushel, yield, biofuel, precision agriculture, agrochemicals, mollisol soils and crop rotation.Industry Code
NAICS 111140 - Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
US grain producers are under pressure due to high stock levels and intense global competition, causing prices to dip. This is particularly difficult for small to mid-sized fa...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Tariff policies may diminish imports from Canada. The industry maintains a significant trade surplus, with Canadian imports accounting for roughly 15.0% of total domestic dem...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Successful grain farming depends on the right mix of sunshine and rain. For this reason, the largest concentration of harvested acres of wheat, barley, sorghum and other grai...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Barriers to entry include high start-up costs and the highly commoditized nature of industry products. Initial investments include land, farm buildings and machinery, seeds a...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
There are no major players dominating this highly fragmented grain farming industry. It consists mostly of small operators that often collaborate through cooperatives to gain...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
Detailed analysis
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Regulation and policy, overseen by agencies like the EPA and USDA, ensure environmental safety and compliance with production standards. These regulations impact farming prac...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profit for grain farmers is under strain as input costs outpace wheat prices. While government disaster assistance supports income stability, core crop profitability remains ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
- Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
- Income Statement (2018-2023)
- Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States in 2025?
The market size of the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States is $13.2bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 73,932 businesses in the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States?
The Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States?
The Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What does the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States include?
Growing hard red wheat and Growing soft red wheat are part of the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States.
How competitive is the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Wheat, Barley & Sorghum Farming industry in the United States.
Related Industries
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Competitors
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Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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