Farm Support Services

The 9,660 companies in the farm support services sector provide a variety of services for either crop or animal production. Services include farm management services, farm labor contracting, pest control, packaging of crops, breeding, and sheep dipping and shearing, among many others.

Dependence On Ag Production and Farm Income

Farm support services companies are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in animal and crop production.

Impact of Immigration Reform

Many farm support services companies, particularly farm management firms and labor contractors, rely heavily on immigrant workers.

Jul 30, 2026 - Invasive Pest Spreading in Texas

• An invasive pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei) has spread to 70 Texas counties, threatening more than 20 million acres of pastureland and placing another 35.7 million acres at risk by damaging grasses used for cattle grazing and hay production, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The pest is reducing forage yields while approved control options remain limited, prompting researchers to seek emergency EPA approval for additional insecticides. For farm support service providers, including agricultural pest control companies, the outbreak is likely to increase demand for pest scouting, crop consulting, custom pesticide application, and integrated pest management services. Extension specialists are urging producers to intensify pasture monitoring, adopt management practices to slow the pest's spread, and seek expert assistance as infestations expand across Texas. Heliococcus summervillei was first detected in the Western Hemisphere in the Caribbean between 2019 and 2020.
• Rising fuel and fertilizer costs tied to the Middle East conflict are stressing US farmers financially and increasing demand for agricultural loans, The Wall Street Journal reports. According to a Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago survey, farm loan repayment rates declined for the tenth consecutive quarter while loan demand continued to grow. Higher input costs are prompting some producers to reduce fertilizer use, switch crops, delay equipment purchases, and postpone land acquisitions. Lenders report more borrowers falling behind on payments and are increasing reserves for potential loan losses. The challenges come on top of weak commodity prices, export disruptions from tariffs, and regional drought conditions that have already strained farm finances. While government support programs and loan guarantees provide some protection, many farmers have depleted working capital reserves and remain vulnerable to further cost increases. Farmers' financial stress is likely to persist if input costs remain high.
• A new federal rule changes how the Labor Department sets Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR), the wage floor intended to keep foreign guest workers from undercutting US farmworker wages, for H-2A guest workers, shifting from USDA's Farm Labor Survey to a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey and creating separate wage tiers for entry-level and experienced workers. A Giannini Foundation analysis estimates California H-2A wage costs could drop 15%, saving employers over $100 million this year. California's 2026 Skill Level I AEWR is estimated at $16.45, just below the state's $16.90 minimum wage, which would serve as the effective wage floor. Farmworker advocates warn the rule will suppress wages for both H-2A and domestic workers. The United Farm Workers and UFW Foundation have filed a federal lawsuit to block the rule. Researchers caution that lower wages could hurt worker retention, morale, and productivity, while potentially pushing more growers to outsource seasonal work to farm labor contractors.
• The Trump administration is easing restrictions on the H-2A visa program to address worsening farm labor shortages caused in part by stricter immigration enforcement, The New York Times reports. By lowering wage requirements and allowing housing to count toward compensation, the changes make it cheaper for farmers to hire temporary foreign workers. Farmers largely support the move, citing a lack of available US workers and rising production challenges. However, critics, including the United Farm Workers of America and immigration advocates, argue it will suppress wages, discourage and displace domestic workers, and increase reliance on vulnerable foreign labor. Economists suggest lowering wages will not attract more American workers and may instead accelerate automation, reliance on guest workers, and increased imports. Overall, the policy highlights a tension between immigration restrictions and agricultural labor needs, with farms becoming increasingly dependent on foreign workers to remain viable.

Industry size & Structure

The average farm support service provider employs about 9-10 workers and generates $2-3 million in annual revenue.

• The farm support services industry includes about 9,660 companies that employ some 94,850 workers and generate around $24.6 billion in annual revenue.
• Farm support services companies vary widely in the type of services provided and processes used.
• Crop support is considerably larger than animal support, with about 8,020 crop-support establishments and 5,340 animal-support establishments, respectively.
• Large firms include Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Cargill, and Syngenta.
• California, Texas, and Florida are home to most farm support service providers.