Soybean Farming
Description
Establishments in this sector specialize in the cultivation of soybeans across various geographic regions, focusing on maximizing yield and quality for food, feed, and industrial markets. Typical business activities involve soil preparation, planting, pest management, harvest operations, and storage. Many operations also extend their scope to include the production of soybean seeds intended for commercial planting by other farmers, adding a critical reproductive component to their agricultural output. The sector encompasses a diverse range of operator types, from large corporate farms employing hundreds of workers to smaller family-run operations. These enterprises may operate as independent businesses or as subsidiaries of major agribusiness conglomerates that manage vast tracts of arable land. The scale of operations varies significantly, with some farms covering thousands of acres while others focus on targeted specialty crops. Regardless of size, all participants adhere to rigorous agricultural standards to ensure crop health and safety. The industry plays a vital role in the global food supply chain and biofuel production. Furthermore, many establishments integrate modern technologies such as precision agriculture and data-driven monitoring systems to optimize resource use and increase efficiency. This sector represents a cornerstone of American farming, driving both local economies and national agricultural statistics through consistent production volumes and export capabilities.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, and harvesting fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats. The establishments in this sector are often described as farms, ranches, dairies, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, or hatcheries. A farm may consist of a single tract of land or a number of separate tracts which may be held under different tenures. For example, one tract may be owned by the farm operator and another rented. It may be operated by the operator alone or with the assistance of members of the household or hired employees, or it may be operated by a partnership, corporation, or other type of organization. When a landowner has one or more tenants, renters, croppers, or managers, the land operated by each is considered a farm. The sector distinguishes two basic activities: agricultural production and agricultural support activities. Agricultural production includes establishments performing the complete farm or ranch operation, such as farm owner-operators and tenant farm operators. Agricultural support activities include establishments that perform one or more activities associated with farm operation, such as soil preparation, planting, harvesting, and management, on a contract or fee basis. Excluded from the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector are establishments primarily engaged in agricultural research (e.g., experimental farms) and government establishments primarily engaged in administering programs for regulating and conserving land, mineral, wildlife, and forest use. These establishments are classified in Industry 54171, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; and Industry 92412, Administration of Conservation Programs, respectively. |
| 111 | Crop Production 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Crop Production subsector grow crops mainly for food and fiber. The subsector comprises establishments, such as farms, orchards, groves, greenhouses, and nurseries, primarily engaged in growing crops, plants, vines, or trees and their seeds. The industries in this subsector are grouped by similarity of production activity, including biological and physiological characteristics and economic requirements, the length of growing season, degree of crop rotation, extent of input specialization, labor requirements, and capital demands. The production process is typically completed when the raw product or commodity grown reaches the "farm gate" for market, that is, at the point of first sale or price determination. Establishments are classified in the Crop Production subsector when crop production (i.e., value of crops for market) accounts for one-half or more of the establishment's total agricultural production. Within the subsector, establishments are classified in a specific industry when a product or industry family of products (i.e., oilseed and grain farming, vegetable and melon farming, fruit and tree nut farming) account for one-half or more of the establishment's agricultural production. Establishments with one-half or more crop production with no one product or family of products of an industry accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production are treated as general combination crop farming and are classified in Industry 11199, All Other Crop Farming. Industries in the Crop Production subsector include establishments that own, operate, and manage and those that operate and manage. Those that manage only are classified in Subsector 115, Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry. Establishments that raise aquatic plants in controlled or selected aquatic environments are classified in Subsector 112, Animal Production and Aquaculture. |
| 1111 | Oilseed and Grain Farming 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) growing oilseed and/or grain crops and/or (2) producing oilseed and grain seeds. These crops have an annual life cycle and are typically grown in open fields. |
| 11111 | Soybean Farming 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 111110. |
| 111110 | Soybean Farming 6-digit U.S. detail | Establishments in this sector specialize in the cultivation of soybeans across various geographic regions, focusing on maximizing yield and quality for food, feed, and industrial markets. Typical business activities involve soil preparation, planting, pest management, harvest operations, and storage. Many operations also extend their scope to include the production of soybean seeds intended for commercial planting by other farmers, adding a critical reproductive component to their agricultural output. The sector encompasses a diverse range of operator types, from large corporate farms employing hundreds of workers to smaller family-run operations. These enterprises may operate as independent businesses or as subsidiaries of major agribusiness conglomerates that manage vast tracts of arable land. The scale of operations varies significantly, with some farms covering thousands of acres while others focus on targeted specialty crops. Regardless of size, all participants adhere to rigorous agricultural standards to ensure crop health and safety. The industry plays a vital role in the global food supply chain and biofuel production. Furthermore, many establishments integrate modern technologies such as precision agriculture and data-driven monitoring systems to optimize resource use and increase efficiency. This sector represents a cornerstone of American farming, driving both local economies and national agricultural statistics through consistent production volumes and export capabilities. |
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Classification References
- 01Establishments engaged in growing soybeans in combination with grain(s) with the soybeans or grain(s) not accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production (value of crops for market) are classified in U.S. Industry 111191, Oilseed and Grain Combination Farming.
Index Items
Soybean farming, field and seed production
How Item Can Help
WMS optimizes storage conditions for fresh soybeans, while OMS coordinates harvest scheduling with suppliers and data intelligence tracks crop yields for better procurement.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 111110.
National Soybean Association
Trade association providing advocacy, market intelligence, and educational resources for US soybean growers.
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - Soybeans
Official government page offering export market reports, trade statistics, and global demand analysis for US soybean exports.
Soybean.org
Industry portal featuring educational materials, certification standards, and a directory of agricultural service providers.
