Grain and Oilseed Milling

The 577 grain and oilseed milling companies in the US produce flours, edible oils, and breakfast cereals from grains and oilseeds. Firms also sell byproducts of the milling process as animal feed or fertilizer. Major product categories are flour milling, rice milling, malt manufacturing, wet corn milling, soybean and other oilseed processing, refining and blending fats and oils, and breakfast cereal manufacturing.

Stricter Food Labeling Requirements

Grain and oilseed manufacturers must comply with a variety of food labeling regulations.

Shifts in Demand Due to Dietary Trends

Grain and oilseed milling companies can face swings in demand due to changing consumer diets and food fads.

Aug 21, 2026 - Regenerative Wheat Initiative

• General Mills, ADM, and Walmart have launched a regenerative agriculture program spanning 40,000 wheat acres across Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri to improve soil health, strengthen wheat supplies, and support growers, Milling Journal reports. ADM will provide technical assistance and financial incentives to encourage practices such as no-till farming and cover crops, while conservation groups will help implement the program. For US grain millers, the initiative supports a more resilient and sustainable domestic wheat supply by promoting long-term crop productivity and improving grain quality. The initiative comes as the USDA lowered its 2026 US wheat production forecast to 1.536 billion bushels, the smallest crop since 1970. The regenerative wheat initiative also reflects growing customer demand for sustainably sourced ingredients and could create new opportunities for millers that supply food manufacturers and retailers with identity-preserved or sustainably produced wheat.
• Growing consumer interest in fiber-rich, less processed foods is fueling demand for premium craft flour, The New York Times reports. The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement and prioritization among health-conscious consumers of clean-label eating, whole grains, digestive wellness, and GLP-1-friendly diets is driving demand for high-extraction, heirloom, and minimally processed flour products, creating new opportunities for grain and oilseed milling companies, especially those producing premium and specialty flours. Premium millers like Cairnspring Mills are expanding production, while bakeries and restaurants are placing greater value on flour quality, flavor, sustainability, and ingredient transparency. The shift is also supporting regenerative farming practices and creating opportunities for mid-sized milling operations. While expansion may require additional investment, growing demand for premium flour gives millers a chance to move beyond commodity products and generate higher margins through differentiated, value-added offerings.
• Americans' rising reliance on GLP‑1 medications for weight loss is reshaping consumer eating patterns, with implications for grain and oilseed milling companies and manufacturers of ultra‑processed foods, Food Processing reports. Households with a GLP‑1 user cut grocery spending 5.5-6% within six months, and long‑term forecasts suggest reduced consumption of soft drinks, baked goods, and salty snacks. As a result, traditional high‑carb, calorie‑dense processed foods, many of which contain milled grains and refined ingredients, face gradual volume pressure. At the same time, GLP‑1 users are seeking higher‑protein, higher‑fiber, nutrient‑dense foods, creating opportunities for millers to supply functional flours, protein‑rich grains, and fiber‑enhanced ingredients. Ultra‑processed food manufacturers will need to reformulate for satiety, clean labels, and metabolic health, while ingredient suppliers invest in protein innovation and specialized supply chains, per FP.
• Producer prices for grain and oilseed milling firms jumped 11.5% in July compared to a year ago, after falling 2.1% in the previous July-to-July annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Industry producer prices have trended sharply upward in 2026 due to rising input costs and stronger pricing for some grain- and oilseed-based products. At retail, the price of breakfast cereal declined 0.4% year over year in July and was unchanged from June, according to the Labor Department’s July 2026 Consumer Price Index. Employment by the industry shrank 0.9% YoY in June followed in July by a 2.4% YoY rise in the average wage at food manufacturers to a new high of $24.67 per hour, BLS data show.

Industry size & Structure

The average grain and oilseed milling company has about 117 employees, operates at 1-2 locations, and generates $244.7 million in annual revenue.

• The grain and oilseed milling industry consists of about 577 companies that employ 67,400 employees and generate $141.2 billion in annual revenue.
• There are about 205 flour milling firms with over 15,650 employees and about 60 rice milling firms with about 5,500 employees.
• There are about 25 malt manufacturers with about 810 employees and about 75 breakfast cereal manufacturers with 11,850 employees.
• There are about 30 wet corn milling companies with about 7,715 employees and about 100 soybean and other oilseed processors with 9,175 employees.
• About 95 fats and oils refining and blending companies have about 8,590 employees
• The grain and oilseed milling industry is highly concentrated - the top 50 companies account for 89% of industry revenue.
• Large US flour milling companies include Ardent Mills, Archer Daniels Midland, Grain Craft, Miller Milling, Bay State Milling Co, and General Mills. Large US producers of edible oils include Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, Cargill, and CHS.