US famers spent more on agrochemical input in 2014

US farmers spent nearly $400 billion on agricultural production in 2014, up 8.3% from 2013. Per farm, the average expenditures total $191,500 compared with $175,270 in 2013, up 9.3%.
 

This was the largest increase since 2008, according to the Farm Production Expenditures report, which was published by the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
 

Feed, already the largest expenditure category for U.S. farmers, also saw the largest increase since 2013. In 2014, producers spent $63.7 billion on animal feed, up 16% from the previous year.
 

Farm services, livestock, poultry and related expenses, and labour were the other three major categories that saw an increase of 11.4%, 11.3%, and 8.6% respectively.
 

Farmers spent $28 billion on fertilizer, lime and soil conditioners in 2014, down by 1% compared with 2013. Expenditure on agrochemical and seeds & plants rose by 8.2% and 0.9% to $15.8 billion and $22.1 billion, respectively. The expenditures of these three categories account for 16.6% of total expenditures.