Tobacco Farming
Description
Establishments classified under tobacco farming focus primarily on the cultivation of specific plant varieties intended for commercial use in smoking products. These operations are distinct because they operate under stringent regulatory frameworks involving federal and state permits, which dictate planting, harvesting, and processing activities. The core business activity involves growing the tobacco plant in field conditions optimized for crop quality, often requiring specialized knowledge regarding soil preparation, irrigation, and pest management to meet market standards. While most operations are family-owned farms or small to medium-sized agribusinesses, larger corporate entities occasionally manage extensive acreages dedicated exclusively to this crop. Unlike general agricultural producers who might use tobacco as a byproduct, these establishments maintain tobacco as their single commodity, dedicating all resources to maximizing yield and leaf quality. The scale of production varies significantly, ranging from a few acres on local family farms to hundreds of thousands of acres managed by regional or national corporations. Production typically occurs seasonally depending on the climate zone, with harvest times critical for determining the final grade and market value of the product. These farms play a crucial role in the broader agricultural economy by providing raw materials that are transported to factories for curing, manufacturing, and subsequent distribution through authorized supply chains to retailers.
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. |
| 1119 | Other Crop Farming 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) growing crops (except oilseed and/or grain; vegetable and/or melon; fruit and tree nut; and greenhouse, nursery, and/or floriculture products), such as tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, hay, sugar beets, peanuts, agave, herbs and spices, and hay and grass seeds, or (2) growing a combination of crops (except a combination of oilseed(s) and grain(s) and a combination of fruit(s) and tree nut(s)). |
| 11191 | Tobacco Farming 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 111910. |
| 111910 | Tobacco Farming 6-digit U.S. detail | Establishments classified under tobacco farming focus primarily on the cultivation of specific plant varieties intended for commercial use in smoking products. These operations are distinct because they operate under stringent regulatory frameworks involving federal and state permits, which dictate planting, harvesting, and processing activities. The core business activity involves growing the tobacco plant in field conditions optimized for crop quality, often requiring specialized knowledge regarding soil preparation, irrigation, and pest management to meet market standards. While most operations are family-owned farms or small to medium-sized agribusinesses, larger corporate entities occasionally manage extensive acreages dedicated exclusively to this crop. Unlike general agricultural producers who might use tobacco as a byproduct, these establishments maintain tobacco as their single commodity, dedicating all resources to maximizing yield and leaf quality. The scale of production varies significantly, ranging from a few acres on local family farms to hundreds of thousands of acres managed by regional or national corporations. Production typically occurs seasonally depending on the climate zone, with harvest times critical for determining the final grade and market value of the product. These farms play a crucial role in the broader agricultural economy by providing raw materials that are transported to factories for curing, manufacturing, and subsequent distribution through authorized supply chains to retailers. |
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Index Items
Tobacco farming, field and seed production
How Item Can Help
The Warehouse Management System streamlines the tracking and storage of perishable tobacco products, ensuring strict compliance with regulatory cold-chain requirements while optimizing inventory accuracy across multiple locations.
Order Management Systems provide real-time visibility into customer demand patterns, enabling tobacco farms to dynamically adjust production schedules and reduce waste by aligning harvest volumes with market needs.
Transportation Management Systems optimize the logistics of delivering sensitive agricultural goods by selecting the most efficient routes and carriers, thereby minimizing spoilage and reducing fuel costs during transportation.
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External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 111910.
Tobacco Growers Association
A US-based non-profit advocating for tobacco farmers on issues like price supports and crop research.
USDA Tobacco Division
The official source for federal regulations, production statistics, and commodity market data for tobacco.
NC State University Tobacco Institute
A leading academic resource providing research, educational materials, and market analysis for commercial tobacco production.
