These Are the 7 Most Valuable Crops Grown in America

The United States of America is home to one of the largest agricultural industries in the world. The country is home to many different agricultural regions, producing a diverse breadth of crops. American farmers grow fruits, veggies, and more, making agriculture an important economic sector in the country.

Let’s discover the most valuable crops grown in the United States. We’ll look primarily at the USDA cash receipts from 2022, which highlight the crops and categories grown in America. Fruits and nuts are the second-most valuable category, but we’ll identify the most valuable individual crop within the category. Learn more about the incredible agricultural industry of 2022 by discovering the most valuable crops grown in America below!

7. Potatoes

One of the most versatile crops grown in America is also one of the most valuable. Potatoes are the seventh-most valuable crop grown in the States. In 2022, potatoes produced $5.07 billion in value. 30 out of 50 states in America produce potatoes commercially, but the leading producer is Idaho. Idaho farmers harvested almost 300,000 acres of potatoes in 2022, producing 1.5 billion dollars of value. Washington, North Dakota, and Wisconsin also produce large amounts of the crop.

Vegetables and melons are the third-most valuable category of crop in America as of 2022. In fact, all veggies and melons totaled $22.3 billion in value in 2022. However, the only crop with a substantial individual contribution was potatoes! Tomatoes trailed behind, producing just over 600,000 million dollars in value.

6. Grapes

Fruits and nuts are the third-most valuable crop category grown in the United States. However, the value of this category is spread between quite a few crops, including apples, almonds, and more. However, grapes are actually the most valuable fruit grown in America. In 2022, farmers in the US harvested $5.93 billion worth of grapes. Interestingly enough, a large majority of the commercial grapes harvested in America are grown in California.

A lot of America’s grapes are wine grapes. California is also the largest wine producer in the United States. The state is what pushes the US into “major wine producer” status. In fact, 12% of the wine produced in the entire world comes from America! While California dominates the grape production in the States, Washington and Oregon also contribute to America’s grape industry.

5. Cotton

The fifth-most valuable crop grown in America in 2022 was cotton. That year, the USDA cash crop receipts showed that 8.4 billion dollars worth of cotton was harvested. Most of the cotton grown in America is in the southern region of the country. Texas is the leading grower, with Georgia, Mississippi, and Arkansas trailing behind. 40% of the cotton grown in America is from Texas. Texas produces a lot of agricultural value annually, but cotton is the state’s leading crop. In fact, in 2022, the state harvested 1.7 billion dollars of upland cotton and cottonseed.

A lot of the cotton grown in the United States is exported to China and then turned into textiles. Then, producers turn the textile into either apparel or home furnishings. The US is a big importer of these goods, so a lot of the cotton does end up back in the States. There are other uses for the crop, including industrial manufacturing and coffee filters!

4. Hay

The fourth-most valuable crop grown in the United States of America is hay! In 2022, American farmers produced 10 billion dollars worth of hay. This crop is harvested in quite a few states throughout the country. In fact, the largest producers of hay in America aren’t even neighbors! Texas, California, Missouri, and Kansas are the leaders of production in 2022. That year, Texas grew 1.2 billion dollars of the crop (and that wasn’t even Texas’s leading crop).

Hay in America is generally used for livestock feed. All sorts of animals eat hay, including horses, goats, sheep, and cattle. It’s an important part of livestock diet, particularly during seasons when grazing isn’t an option. Alfalfa hay is another variety of the crop grown in America, however to a much lesser extent. California is the leading producer of alfalfa hay.

3. Wheat

The third-most valuable crop grown in America is no surprise: wheat. Wheat is an abundant crop harvested all over the United States. According to USDA cash receipts, America produced 13.2 billion dollars of wheat in 2022. States in middle America grow the majority of the wheat in the US, including Kansas, North Dakota, and Montana. Kansas alone grew over 2 billion dollars worth of winter wheat!

Farmers primarily grow three types of wheat in America: winter wheat, spring wheat, and durum wheat. The first two types of wheat are named after their harvesting schedules. Technically, durum wheat is a type of spring wheat, but it’s got a unique use. Producers generally use durum wheat to make semolina flour and, ultimately, pasta.

2. Soybeans

The surprising second-most valuable crop in America is soybeans. Soybeans produced $61.4 billion in value in 2022 according to USDA cash crop receipts. These legumes are versatile and abundant, used for a wide variety of goods. Soybeans, like many of the crops on this list, are produced in quite a few states. However, soybean farmers generally live somewhere in the Midwest. Illinois and Iowa are the leading producers of soybeans in the US.

In 2022, farmers in Iowa produced over $8 billion in soybeans, and farmers in Illinois produced a whopping $9.7 billion in value. These two states together make up almost a third of the country’s soybean crop! Soybeans grown in America are used for quite a few different things, including the production of tofu and livestock feed.

1. Corn

Finally, the most valuable crop grown in America is corn! This is no surprise, as corn is grown in almost every single US state. In fact, America has a region called the Corn Belt, consisting of a slew of Midwestern states that grow a large amount of the country’s corn. The Corn Belt is generally believed to be made up of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In 2022, the United States produced $88.4 billion of corn, according to USDA cash crop receipts.

The state that grew the most corn in 2022 was Iowa, which harvested almost 13 million acres. This 13 million acres produced almost $17 billion in value. That’s a substantial percentage of the country’s overall value! Corn produced in America is used for a large number of things, including produce, oil, and animal feed. It’s a diverse crop found on the tables and in the fields of many Americans all around the country.

Summary of the Most Valuable Crops in America

Finally, you’ve discovered the most valuable crops grown in America. As you’ve noticed, America boasts a diverse and extremely valuable agricultural scene. Let’s look at a quick summary of what you’ve learned:

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