NAICS 111930 Quarterly Industry Report
Sugarcane Farming
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 111930Sector: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry profile for NAICS 111930 provides business owners, buyers, and valuation professionals with sector-specific benchmarks and market context for sugarcane farming operations. Additional data is drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics[4], U.S. Census Bureau[5].. Content is compiled from USDA NASS[2] crop production reports, USDA ERS[3] sugar market analysis, and SBA[6] regulatory filings to support informed valuation and transaction analysis.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the sugarcane farming industry.
NAICS Sector
11
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
Industry Definition & Overview
Sugarcane Farming (NAICS 111930) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in growing sugarcane for sugar production and seed stock [1]. U.S. sugarcane production for 2024 was forecast at 34.9 million net tons, harvested from roughly 900,000 acres concentrated in Florida and Louisiana, with smaller production areas in Texas and Hawaii [2]. Florida leads national output with roughly 404,000 harvested acres producing 18.5 million tons at 46.1 tons per acre, while Louisiana harvested 16.4 million tons[2] with an average farm size of about 1,205 planted acres [3]. The domestic sugar industry, including both sugarcane and sugar beet production, generates more than one billion dollars in annual farm-gate revenue.
Sugarcane farming is a capital-intensive, multi-year crop cycle operation where planted cane is typically harvested for three to four ratoon (regrowth) crops before replanting is required. Operations range from family-owned farms of a few hundred acres to large corporate farming enterprises managing thousands of acres with mechanized harvesting, loading, and transportation to nearby sugar mills. The industry operates under a federal sugar program that provides price supports, marketing allotments, and tariff-rate quotas on imported sugar, creating a protected domestic market that sustains higher sugar prices than world market levels. Per USDA ERS[3] sugar market analysis, key challenges include rising production costs, environmental regulations related to water management in the Florida Everglades Agricultural Area, labor availability for planting and harvest operations, and uncertainty around future federal sugar policy direction.
What's Included in This Industry
- Sugarcane farming for sugar production
- Seed cane production and propagation
- Irrigated sugarcane operations
- Rainfed sugarcane cultivation
- Ratoon crop management and harvesting
- Sugarcane grown for ethanol feedstock
- Organic sugarcane farming operations
- Other sugarcane production establishments
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 11 |
| Subsector | Crop Production | 111 |
| Industry Group | Other Crop Farming | 1119 |
| NAICS Industry | Sugarcane Farming | 11193 |
| National Industry | Sugarcane Farming | 111930 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 111991 | Sugar Beet Farming | Sugar beet farming operations that produce the other major domestic sugar crop and compete for sugar marketing allotments under the federal sugar program |
| 111150 | Corn Farming | Corn farming operations whose high fructose corn syrup output competes directly with cane sugar in the sweetener market for food manufacturing applications |
| 111998 | All Other Miscellaneous Crop Farming | All other miscellaneous crop farming operations where sugarcane farmland may be diversified with vegetables, sod, or specialty crops during transition periods |
| 115113 | Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine | Crop harvesting services providing mechanized sugarcane cutting, loading, and field-to-mill transportation services during the annual harvest campaign |
| 115112 | Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating | Soil preparation services providing land leveling, drainage installation, and field preparation for sugarcane planting and ratoon crop management |
| 111920 | Cotton Farming | Cotton farming operations that share southeastern U.S. agricultural regions and compete for similar farmland and seasonal labor resources in Gulf Coast states |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is classified under NAICS 111930?
NAICS 111930 covers all sugarcane farming operations, including sugarcane grown for sugar production and seed cane propagation [1]. The U.S. Census Bureau[9] classifies establishments in this code when sugarcane is the primary crop, encompassing both irrigated and rainfed operations across all producing states.
What is the SBA size standard for sugarcane farming?
The SBA sets the small business size standard for NAICS 111930 at $5.0 million in average annual receipts [4]. This relatively high threshold reflects the capital-intensive, acreage-intensive nature of sugarcane production. Per SBA regulations[10], receipts are calculated as a multi-year average and include all farm income sources.
How large is the U.S. sugarcane industry?
U.S. sugarcane production for 2024 was forecast at 34.9 million net tons harvested from roughly 900,000 acres [2]. Per USDA NASS[2] data, Florida and Louisiana together account for the vast majority of national production, with Florida producing about 18.5 million tons and Louisiana contributing roughly 16.4 million tons. Texas and Hawaii produce smaller volumes.
How does the federal sugar program affect sugarcane farmers?
The federal sugar program provides price supports through nonrecourse loans, allocates domestic marketing allotments between cane and beet processors, and limits imports through tariff-rate quotas. This framework supports domestic sugar prices above world market levels, providing a revenue floor for cane growers. Per USDA ERS[3] policy analysis, the program's structure directly influences planting decisions, land values in sugar-producing regions, and the overall economic viability of domestic sugarcane farming.
What factors drive sugarcane farm valuation?
Key valuation factors include total productive acreage, soil type and drainage characteristics, water management infrastructure, proximity to operating sugar mills (as sugarcane must be processed within hours of harvest), established mill delivery contracts, equipment inventory, and ratoon crop status across field blocks. Land in the Florida Everglades Agricultural Area commands premium prices due to the unique muck soils and established mill infrastructure in the region.
What is the sugarcane crop cycle?
Sugarcane is a perennial crop that is planted and then harvested annually for three to four ratoon (regrowth) crops before the field requires replanting. The initial plant crop takes 12 to 18 months to mature, while subsequent ratoon crops are harvested on roughly 12-month cycles. Harvest season runs from October through March in both Florida and Louisiana. Per USDA NASS[2] production data, yields typically decline with each successive ratoon crop, making the replanting cycle a key management decision affecting farm productivity and economics.
What environmental regulations affect sugarcane farming?
Sugarcane operations in Florida face water quality regulations related to phosphorus runoff into the Everglades, requiring best management practices and participation in water treatment programs. Louisiana operations manage water discharge into the Mississippi River watershed. Both states regulate agricultural burning practices used to remove sugarcane leaves before or after mechanical harvesting. These environmental compliance costs represent a growing component of farm operating expenses and can affect property values and expansion opportunities in regulated areas.
How does weather affect sugarcane production?
Sugarcane is vulnerable to freeze damage in Louisiana and northern Florida, hurricanes and tropical storms during the growing and harvest seasons, and flooding that can damage standing crops and delay harvest operations. The 2024 Louisiana crop benefited from favorable conditions and set production milestones, while prior seasons have experienced weather-related losses. Federal crop insurance through the USDA Risk Management Agency[11] provides coverage against yield and revenue losses from weather events, with most commercial sugarcane acreage enrolled in these programs.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]Louisiana harvested 16.4 million tons nass.usda.gov
- [3]USDA ERS ers.usda.gov
- [4]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]SBA sba.gov
- [7]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [8]504 loans sba.gov
- [9]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [10]SBA regulations sba.gov
- [11]USDA Risk Management Agency rma.usda.gov
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