Wheat Farming
Description
Wheat farming represents a cornerstone of global agriculture, involving the cultivation of wheat and the production of wheat seeds across diverse climates. Establishments in this sector are dedicated to managing large agricultural fields to ensure successful harvests of this essential grain. Typical business activities include land preparation, planting, irrigation, pest control, and harvest management. Operators often employ mechanized equipment to plow fields, sow seeds, and combine crops efficiently. Many businesses specialize specifically in producing certified seeds for other farmers, while others focus on selling grain directly to processors or selling to auction markets. Some entities may integrate feedlots or grain handling facilities directly onto their property to add value before shipping goods. The industry ranges from independent smallholder farmers operating modest acreage to large-scale corporate farms utilizing advanced technology and data analytics. Production scales vary widely, but commercial wheat farms typically generate millions of bushels annually when managed at an industrial level. These operations are crucial for feeding populations and providing raw materials for bread, pasta, and numerous other food products. The scope extends beyond simple growing, encompassing logistics, storage, and direct marketing strategies to reach end consumers or industrial buyers.
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. |
| 11114 | Wheat Farming 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 111140. |
| 111140 | Wheat Farming 6-digit U.S. detail | Wheat farming represents a cornerstone of global agriculture, involving the cultivation of wheat and the production of wheat seeds across diverse climates. Establishments in this sector are dedicated to managing large agricultural fields to ensure successful harvests of this essential grain. Typical business activities include land preparation, planting, irrigation, pest control, and harvest management. Operators often employ mechanized equipment to plow fields, sow seeds, and combine crops efficiently. Many businesses specialize specifically in producing certified seeds for other farmers, while others focus on selling grain directly to processors or selling to auction markets. Some entities may integrate feedlots or grain handling facilities directly onto their property to add value before shipping goods. The industry ranges from independent smallholder farmers operating modest acreage to large-scale corporate farms utilizing advanced technology and data analytics. Production scales vary widely, but commercial wheat farms typically generate millions of bushels annually when managed at an industrial level. These operations are crucial for feeding populations and providing raw materials for bread, pasta, and numerous other food products. The scope extends beyond simple growing, encompassing logistics, storage, and direct marketing strategies to reach end consumers or industrial buyers. |
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Classification References
- 01Establishments growing wheat in combination with oilseed(s) with the wheat or oilseed(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
Wheat farming, field and seed production
How Item Can Help
The Wheat Farming Warehouse Management System enables precise inventory tracking of harvested grain, automates sorting based on quality metrics, and optimizes storage conditions to minimize spoilage during peak harvests.
Truck Transportation Management software reduces costs by optimizing routes for large harvest deliveries to mills or bulk terminals while ensuring timely transport of time-sensitive agricultural commodities.
Advanced data analytics predict wheat yield trends and market prices, allowing producers to make informed decisions on planting schedules, harvest timing, and sales strategies to maximize profitability.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 111140.
American Farmland Trust
A non-profit organization focused on agricultural conservation and providing resources for wheat farmers.
National Wheat Council
An industry association representing wheat producers and processors in the United States.
USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey
A government resource providing statistical data on wheat production, acreage, and yields across the United States.
