Farm Support Services Industry Profile

Companies in this industry provide crop support services, such as planting and harvesting, and livestock support services, such as breeding. No major companies dominate the industry.

About 8,500 farm support services companies operate in the US, generating annual revenue of about $13 billion. Output of US agriculture and forestry support activities, including farm support services, is forecast to grow at a moderate rate in the next two years. Key drivers for growth include increased demand for pre- and post-harvest specialists and international consulting services.

This industry includes companies that support crop and animal farm operations but don't themselves produce crops, raise farm animals, or own farmland.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by domestic trends in crop and livestock production. The profitability of individual companies depends on establishing a value-added benefit to farms and keeping wages low. Large companies have advantages in vertical integration and in offering a wide range of services. Small companies can compete effectively by specializing in a niche industry or service.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major services include post-harvest crop activities like drying, cleaning, shelling, sorting, grading, and packing; and animal support activities like breeding livestock and pets, boarding and training horses, spraying cattle with insecticides, and stud services. Other offerings include soil preparation services like plowing and fertilizing; planting, cultivating, and protecting crops; machine-harvesting crops; cotton ginning; and farm labor contracting.

Among all US farm support service providers, half specialize in crops and half ...