Corn Farming
Description
Establishments within this industry are primarily responsible for cultivating grain corn across a variety of geographic regions. Their core operation involves preparing land, planting hybrid seeds, managing irrigation and fertilization, and harvesting the mature crop for commercial use or seed production. These operations often integrate complex machinery to ensure efficient planting and large-scale harvesting. Many businesses also provide post-harvest services such as drying, storing, and processing the grain before delivery to buyers. Operators in this sector range from large family-owned farms to massive corporate agribusinesses. While some focus on a single crop, many operate diversified portfolios that include corn, soybeans, and other field crops. The scale of these operations varies significantly, with some producing thousands of acres of acreage under one management structure while others are smaller regional producers. A significant portion of these firms produces corn seeds intended for replanting by other agricultural entities, making them critical nodes in the broader agricultural supply chain. Their activities directly support the economy by ensuring steady grain supplies for livestock, feed mills, food processors, and ethanol plants.
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. |
| 11115 | Corn Farming 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 111150. |
| 111150 | Corn Farming 6-digit U.S. detail | Establishments within this industry are primarily responsible for cultivating grain corn across a variety of geographic regions. Their core operation involves preparing land, planting hybrid seeds, managing irrigation and fertilization, and harvesting the mature crop for commercial use or seed production. These operations often integrate complex machinery to ensure efficient planting and large-scale harvesting. Many businesses also provide post-harvest services such as drying, storing, and processing the grain before delivery to buyers. Operators in this sector range from large family-owned farms to massive corporate agribusinesses. While some focus on a single crop, many operate diversified portfolios that include corn, soybeans, and other field crops. The scale of these operations varies significantly, with some producing thousands of acres of acreage under one management structure while others are smaller regional producers. A significant portion of these firms produces corn seeds intended for replanting by other agricultural entities, making them critical nodes in the broader agricultural supply chain. Their activities directly support the economy by ensuring steady grain supplies for livestock, feed mills, food processors, and ethanol plants. |
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Classification References
- 01Growing sweet corn--are classified in U.S. Industry 111219, Other Vegetable (except Potato) and Melon Farming; and
- 02Growing corn in combination with oilseed(s) with the corn or oilseed(s) not accounting for one-half of the establishment's production (value of crops for market)--are classified in U.S. Industry 111191, Oilseed and Grain Combination Farming.
Index Items
Corn farming (except sweet corn), field and seed production
Popcorn farming, field and seed production
How Item Can Help
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Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 111150.
American Corn Growers Association
Trade association representing corn growers and their interests at the state and national level.
USDA Farm Service Agency Corn Data
Government resource providing statistical data and historical trends for corn farming operations across the United States.
American Farmland Trust Corn Conservation
Nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving farmland, including detailed resources on corn farming practices and land conservation.
