NAICS 493130 Quarterly Industry Report
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 493130Sector: 49Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This NAICS 493130 industry profile draws from Census Bureau[4] establishment data, Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] employment statistics for warehousing and storage occupations, and SBA[6] size standard thresholds. Fair Market Value updates this report quarterly, tracking grain storage capacity, crop production volumes, and commodity price movements that influence warehousing demand. Our research team monitors USDA grain stocks reports and elevator licensing data to provide NAICS 493130 valuation professionals with current benchmarks on storage revenue, capacity use, and regional market conditions.
Industry Definition & Overview
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage (NAICS 493130) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in operating bulk farm product warehousing and storage facilities, excluding refrigerated operations. Grain elevators used primarily for storage rather than merchandising represent the largest segment of this industry. These facilities receive, clean, dry, weigh, and store agricultural commodities including wheat, corn, soybeans, rice, cotton, and other field crops between harvest and processing or sale.
Grain storage capacity is a critical infrastructure asset in U.S. agriculture. Census Bureau data[4] shows this industry includes country elevators near farms, terminal elevators at rail junctions and river ports, and inland transfer elevators that aggregate grain for long-distance shipment. Cotton compress and warehouse operations, tobacco warehousing, and hay storage facilities also fall within this classification. Revenue comes from storage fees charged per bushel per month, handling charges for receiving and shipping, and conditioning services like grain drying and aeration.
Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] data covers warehousing workers across all storage types, with farm product warehouse operators employing grain inspectors, elevator operators, and bulk material handlers. Capital requirements include elevator construction, grain bins, conveying equipment, drying systems, and dust suppression infrastructure. Operating risks center on grain quality preservation, fumigation management, and compliance with federal grain inspection standards. Geographic concentration closely mirrors crop production regions, with the Midwest corn belt and Great Plains wheat belt hosting the majority of facilities.
What's Included in This Industry
- Operating grain elevators for bulk storage of wheat, corn, and soybeans
- Country elevator operations receiving grain directly from farms
- Terminal elevator operations at rail junctions and river port facilities
- Grain drying, cleaning, and conditioning services for stored commodities
- Cotton compress and warehousing operations for baled cotton storage
- Bulk rice storage and milling preparation warehouse operations
- Tobacco leaf warehousing and curing storage facility management
- Hay and straw storage in commercial bulk holding facilities
- Grain blending and identity preservation services for specialty crops
- Fumigation and pest management services within grain storage structures
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Warehousing and Storage | 493 |
| Industry Group | Warehousing and Storage | 4931 |
| NAICS Industry | Farm Product Warehousing and Storage | 49313 |
| National Industry | Farm Product Warehousing and Storage | 493130 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 493110 | General Warehousing and Storage | General merchandise warehousing facilities handling manufactured goods in containers, distinct from bulk agricultural commodity storage requiring specialized grain handling equipment |
| 493120 | Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage | Refrigerated warehousing operations storing temperature-controlled products, while farm product warehouses maintain ambient or climate-controlled conditions for dry commodities |
| 493190 | Other Warehousing and Storage | Other warehousing and storage facilities handling specialized non-agricultural products like lumber and petroleum, serving different commodity markets than farm storage |
| 424510 | Grain and Field Bean Merchant Wholesalers | Grain and field bean merchant wholesalers that buy and sell agricultural commodities, with grain storage as an incidental activity rather than a primary service |
| 484210 | Used Household and Office Goods Moving | Used household and office goods trucking firms operate differently, but specialized agricultural commodity trucking carriers transport grain to and from elevator facilities |
| 488510 | Freight Transportation Arrangement | Freight transportation arrangement firms that coordinate commodity shipments between farm product warehouses and processing facilities or export terminals |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 9.6% | 74 |
| 2 | California | 9.2% | 71 |
| 3 | Illinois | 7.1% | 55 |
| 4 | Arkansas | 4.7% | 36 |
| 5 | Georgia | 4.3% | 33 |
| 6 | New York | 4.0% | 31 |
| 7 | Washington | 4.0% | 31 |
| 8 | Iowa | 3.9% | 30 |
| 9 | Florida | 3.5% | 27 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 3.5% | 27 |
% Of Establishments
0%
10%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 493130?
Grain elevators (country, terminal, and transfer), cotton compress and warehouse operations, tobacco storage facilities, rice storage warehouses, and bulk agricultural commodity holding operations are classified here. Grain wholesalers storing as an incidental activity fall under NAICS 424510[9] instead.
How is NAICS 493130 structured within the transportation sector?
NAICS 493130 sits within Subsector 493 (Warehousing and Storage) alongside general warehousing (493110), refrigerated storage (493120), and other storage (493190). It specifically covers bulk farm product storage in non-refrigerated facilities, distinguishing it from cold storage of perishable agricultural products.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 493130?
The SBA size standard[6] for NAICS 493130 is $34 million in average annual receipts. This revenue-based threshold uses the five-year average of gross receipts to determine small business eligibility for federal contracting preferences and SBA loan programs.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 493130?
Related codes include 493110 (General Warehousing and Storage), 493120 (Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage), 424510 (Grain and Field Bean Merchant Wholesalers), 488510 (Freight Transportation Arrangement), and 493190 (Other Warehousing and Storage). Each serves a different function in the agricultural commodity supply chain.
What industries interact most with farm product warehousing?
Grain farmers, crop processors, grain merchants (424510), and commodity exporters generate the primary demand. Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] data covers the broader warehousing workforce, with farm product storage employing specialized grain elevator operators, inspectors, and bulk material handlers.
What activities are included in NAICS 493130?
Included activities cover grain elevator operations, grain drying and conditioning, cotton compress and warehousing, tobacco leaf storage, bulk rice storage, hay storage, grain blending, and fumigation services. Refrigerated storage of agricultural products is excluded per Census Bureau[10] and falls under NAICS 493120.
Are NAICS 493130 businesses eligible for SBA loans?
Yes, farm product warehouse operators under $34 million qualify for SBA 7(a) loans[7] for equipment and working capital, and 504 loans[8] for grain bin construction and elevator facilities. Harvest-driven seasonal cash flow patterns make SBA working capital financing especially valuable for managing peak storage periods.
Where are NAICS 493130 businesses geographically concentrated?
Farm product storage facilities concentrate in major crop production regions. Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas host the densest networks of grain elevators per Census Bureau[4] establishment data. Cotton warehouses cluster in Texas, Mississippi, and Georgia. River port terminals along the Mississippi and its tributaries serve as major aggregation points for export-bound grain.
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]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]Census Bureau data data.census.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]SBA sba.gov
- [7]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [8]504 loan program sba.gov
- [9]NAICS 424510 census.gov
- [10]Census Bureau census.gov
Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by Fair Market Value (“Fair Market Value”) for informational purposes only. It is provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Fair Market Value makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, completeness, or accuracy of the data or information contained herein. This publication is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or business decisions based on the information presented.
To the extent permitted by law, Fair Market Value disclaims all liability for loss or damage, direct and indirect, suffered or incurred by any person resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the data in this publication.
Copyright © 2026 Fair Market Value. All rights reserved. All data, information, articles, graphs, and content contained in this publication are copyrighted works and Fair Market Value hereby reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded to a third party, or distributed without the prior written permission of Fair Market Value.