Analysis
NAICS 11511 is the 2022 NAICS industry for support activities for crop production, part of 1151 (Support Activities for Crop Production). Census lists 92 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 5,072 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 68,364 people at an average annual payroll of $55,834 per employee (26th percentile of national industries). 61% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Census lists 7 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 11531, 56173, 23891 and 31142. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Across its national industries Census lists 92 index entries; typical ones are cotton ginning, aerial crop dusting or spraying (i.e., using specialized or…, berries, machine harvesting and almond hulling and shelling.
Its goods appear in 4 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 0802 (other nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
It splits into 6 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 115112 (Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating) with 2,210.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing support activities for growing crops.
Illustrative Examples:
Aerial crop dusting or spraying (i.e., using specialized or dedicated aircraft) Farm management services Cotton ginning Planting crops Cultivating services Vineyard cultivation services
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Providing support activities for forestry | 11531 Support Activities for Forestry |
| Landscaping services, such as lawn and maintenance care and ornamental tree and shrub services | 56173 Landscaping Services |
| Land clearing, land leveling, and earth moving for terracing, ponds, and irrigation | 23891 Site Preparation Contractors |
| Artificially drying and dehydrating fruits and vegetables | 31142 Fruit and Vegetable Canning, Pickling, and Drying |
| Stemming and redrying tobacco | 31223 Tobacco Manufacturing |
| Providing water for irrigation | 22131 Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
| Buying farm products, such as fruits or vegetables, for resale to other wholesalers or retailers, and preparing them for market or further processing | 42448 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (92)
- Cotton ginning
- Aerial crop dusting or spraying (i.e., using specialized or dedicated aircraft)
- Berries, machine harvesting
- Almond hulling and shelling
- Agriculture production or harvesting crews
- Farm management services