Farm income and nonfarm personal income tell different stories about state economies. Together they show how much of each state’s personal income flow still comes from farming versus everything else. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) publishes both series annually in CAINC4 — Personal income by major component (LineCode 12 for farm income, LineCode 11 for nonfarm personal income). All figures below are current dollars, in thousands of dollars as published by BEA (not adjusted for inflation).
Key Takeaways
- National growth (2010–2023): U.S. farm income rose from about $66.4 billion to $118.3 billion (roughly +78%); nonfarm personal income rose from about $12.48 trillion to $23.46 trillion (roughly +88%).
- Where farm income is largest in dollar terms: California and Texas lead in total farm income; major Plains and Corn Belt states (Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois) also rank near the top.
- Where farm income matters most as a share of income: South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa show the highest farm share of farm-plus-nonfarm income among states—often several times the national average share.
Key Takeaways
- Official BEA Regional Economic Accounts: CAINC4 farm vs. nonfarm personal income by state
- 2010 and 2023 snapshots plus state rankings for planning context
- Farm share of income highlights agriculture-dependent state economies
- Current-dollar figures; compare across states with consistent definitions
- Business Initiative can help turn location insights into registration and compliance steps
Understand the role of agriculture in state economies and how nonfarm income compares. This analysis reveals which states depend most on farming income in dollar terms and as a share of total flows—so you can pair economic structure with business strategy.
Table of Contents
Overview
Farm income in this table is BEA’s farm earnings concept (see BEA notes on the series). Nonfarm personal income is total personal income less farm income—so the two components partition personal income along the farm / nonfarm split at the national and state level.
What This Means for You
If you operate in or sell into agriculture-linked industries, states with a high farm share may behave differently from states where personal income is almost entirely nonfarm. If you are not in agriculture, the same split still matters: it describes economic structure and cyclical exposure in each state.
Top states by farm income (2023)
Values in millions of current dollars (BEA thousands ÷ 1,000). Top ten states.
Data Analysis
United States totals
| Measure | 2010 (thousands $) | 2023 (thousands $) |
|---|---|---|
| Farm income | 66,432,000 | 118,250,000 |
| Nonfarm personal income | 12,481,069,000 | 23,458,958,000 |
Both series grew substantially over the period; nonfarm personal income dominates the level of income nationally, while farm income remains material in aggregate and decisive in some states’ income mix.
Key statistics (50 states, 2023)
- Largest farm income (thousands of dollars): California 16,929,279; Texas 10,065,929; Iowa 6,913,657 (BEA state-level CAINC4, LineCode 12).
- Highest farm share of (farm + nonfarm) among states: South Dakota about 7.0%; North Dakota about 5.7%; Nebraska about 4.6%; Iowa about 3.4% (computed from LineCode 12 and 11).
States with the highest farm share of income (2023)
Farm income ÷ (farm + nonfarm personal income), percent. Top ten states.
State-by-state comparison
Top states by farm income (2023, thousands of dollars)
- California — 16,929,279
- Texas — 10,065,929
- Iowa — 6,913,657
- Nebraska — 6,599,798
- Illinois — 6,541,326
- South Dakota — 4,783,123
- Indiana — 4,092,361
- Minnesota — 3,872,718
- Kansas — 3,798,187
- Washington — 3,443,536
Large dollar farm income can reflect scale and commodity mix, not only “dependence” on agriculture.
Top states by farm share (2023)
- South Dakota — ~7.0%
- North Dakota — ~5.7%
- Nebraska — ~4.6%
- Iowa — ~3.4%
- Idaho — ~2.2%
- Kansas — ~2.0%
- Arkansas — ~1.5%
- Montana — ~1.5%
- Mississippi — ~1.0%
- New Mexico — ~1.0%
Farm income: top ten states (bar)
Same top-ten ranking as the pie chart; values in millions of current dollars.
Key Insights
- National: Nonfarm personal income is orders of magnitude larger than farm income in the aggregate, but farm income grew at a similar order of magnitude over 2010–2023 in percentage terms.
- Regional: Plains and upper Midwest states cluster at the top of farm share rankings—useful when assessing exposure to commodity cycles and rural labor markets.
- Interpretation: States with high dollar farm income are not always the states where farm income is a high share of total income; compare both views for your use case.
Data Sources
Data are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts, table CAINC4 (Personal income by major component), LineCode 11 (nonfarm personal income) and LineCode 12 (farm income), geographic area STATE, years 2010 and 2023. Dollar estimates are in thousands of current dollars unless noted otherwise.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Farm vs. Nonfarm Income: Agricultural State Economics (2010-2023)?
Farm vs. Nonfarm Income: Agricultural State Economics (2010-2023) is a comprehensive analysis of economic data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
This page provides data-driven insights on agricultural economics, rural vs. urban income, industry composition..
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This analysis examines farm vs. nonfarm income: agricultural state economics (2010-2023) using official government data.
The data comes from BEA's Regional Economic Accounts and is updated regularly.
Use this information to make informed business location and planning decisions.
The analysis includes state-by-state comparisons, rankings, and trend analysis.
How often is this data updated?
BEA data is typically updated annually, with some datasets updated quarterly.
This page is updated when new data becomes available.
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The Bureau of Economic Analysis releases new data on a regular schedule.
Regional income data is typically updated annually after the end of each calendar year.
Check the data sources section for the most recent update date.
We strive to update pages within 30 days of new data releases.
What data sources are used in this analysis?
This analysis uses official data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
Specific variables include: BEA Regional table CAINC4 — LineCode 11 (nonfarm personal income) and LineCode 12 (farm income), GeoFIPS STATE, years 2010 and 2023.
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All data is sourced directly from BEA Regional Economic Accounts.
The data is official, authoritative, and publicly available.
We use the government-data MCP client to ensure data accuracy and timeliness.
Data methodology follows BEA standards and definitions.
How can I use this data for business planning?
This data can help inform business location decisions, market analysis, and strategic planning.
Compare states and regions to identify opportunities.
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Use state rankings to identify markets with strong economic indicators.
Compare income levels and growth rates to assess market potential.
Consider these statistics alongside other factors like cost of living and business climate.
Business Initiative offers expert guidance on state selection and business registration.
Are there limitations to this data?
Data may have reporting delays, sampling limitations, or geographic coverage gaps.
Some data points may be suppressed for privacy or reliability reasons.
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BEA data is subject to revision as more complete information becomes available.
Small geographic areas may have limited data availability.
Historical data may use different methodologies than current data.
Always check the data sources section for specific limitations.
How accurate is this data?
BEA data is highly accurate and follows rigorous statistical standards.
Data undergoes quality checks and validation before publication.
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The Bureau of Economic Analysis is a federal statistical agency with high data quality standards.
Data is subject to regular audits and quality reviews.
Methodologies are transparent and documented.
We display data exactly as provided by BEA without manipulation.
Can I download or export this data?
Yes, you can access the original data from BEA websites.
Links to official data sources are provided in the data sources section.
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BEA provides data downloads in various formats on their website.
You can access the same data we use through BEA's API or data portal.
For custom analysis, consider consulting with Business Initiative.
We can help you access and analyze government data for your specific needs.
How does this compare to other economic indicators?
BEA income data complements other indicators like employment, GDP, and business formation statistics.
Combining multiple data sources provides a more complete picture.
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Income data reflects economic prosperity and purchasing power.
Compare with employment data to understand labor market conditions.
GDP data provides broader economic context.
Business formation statistics show entrepreneurial activity levels.
In Summary
Farm and nonfarm personal income from BEA separate agriculture-linked earnings from the rest of each state’s personal income. Use dollar rankings to see scale and share rankings to see dependence. Pair that with your industry and customers when choosing where to operate or expand.
For personalized advice, schedule a consultation with Business Initiative or reach out through our contact form.
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