Yes — a free, instant self-serve USDA NASS Quick Stats key.

Does this cover global production?

No — it covers real US national totals only.

Yes — free, no download, in your browser.

Why are the units different for different crops?

NASS reports each commodity in its customary measure, such as bushels, tons or bales. That reflects how each crop is handled and traded, but it makes direct comparison difficult.

Are the numbers forecasts or final totals?

NASS issues forecasts during the growing season and later estimates after harvest. A latest annual total is typically a completed figure, though NASS estimates can be revised.

Does highest production mean highest value?

No. Production is a quantity, not a value. A bulky crop with a low price per unit can outproduce a valuable one, so ranking by quantity says little about economic value.

US Crop Production Board Screensaver

The US Crop Production Board screensaver ranks real annual US crop production by commodity. It is free, runs in your browser, and ESC exits.

How the US Crop Production Board screensaver works

The saver reads real national totals from USDA's own NASS Quick Stats API.

Commodities are ranked by their real latest reported production total.

The pipeline refreshes on USDA NASS's own annual survey schedule.

A free instant USDA NASS Quick Stats key is required for this endpoint.

How USDA counts a crop

The US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is the federal statistical agency that surveys farmers and compiles production statistics for American agriculture. It publishes the data through Quick Stats, its searchable database, which covers every state and county and whose data files are updated each weekday. Census of Agriculture data back to 1997 can be queried there too.

Production is the total output of a commodity, reported in units that differ by crop: bushels for corn and soybeans, tons for hay, or bales for cotton. Because the units differ, a ranking by raw production mixes quantities that are not directly comparable, and a crop at the top is not necessarily the most valuable.

The figures come from NASS surveys and from the Census of Agriculture, which is taken once every five years. NASS issues forecasts through the growing season, and estimates can be revised as more information arrives, so a later figure can differ from earlier ones. The board covers only the United States and does not show global output or prices.

A worked example

A real staple crop's real latest national production total is ranked against the real other commodities.

Settings & tips

Totals and units are real, unedited USDA NASS Quick Stats figures.
Accent recolours the bars and header text.
NASS is the USDA's own real National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Frequently asked questions

Is this real agricultural data?: Yes — real national totals from USDA's own NASS Quick Stats API.
Is a key needed?: Yes — a free, instant self-serve USDA NASS Quick Stats key.
Does this cover global production?: No — it covers real US national totals only.
Is it free?: Yes — free, no download, in your browser.
Why are the units different for different crops?: NASS reports each commodity in its customary measure, such as bushels, tons or bales. That reflects how each crop is handled and traded, but it makes direct comparison difficult.
Are the numbers forecasts or final totals?: NASS issues forecasts during the growing season and later estimates after harvest. A latest annual total is typically a completed figure, though NASS estimates can be revised.
Does highest production mean highest value?: No. Production is a quantity, not a value. A bulky crop with a low price per unit can outproduce a valuable one, so ranking by quantity says little about economic value.

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