Field crops · NASS annual estimates, 2026
Where is barley grown?
Idaho grows the most barley: 33% of the 116 million bushels grown in the US in 2026.
Next come Montana (31%) and North Dakota (17%).
- US total, 2026
- 116 million bushelsNASS estimate
- Top state
- Idaho33% of total
- Farms reporting, 2022
- 9,112in 44 states
- Harvest, 2026
- Aug 9 to Sep 610% to 90% harvested
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. State view: NASS annual estimates, 2026. County view: 2022 Census of Agriculture (production).
Which state grows the most barley?
Idaho grows the most barley: 33% of the 116 million bushels grown in the US in 2026. Ranked by NASS's 2026 estimate.
Which counties grow the most barley?
From the 2022 Census of Agriculture, which reports barley for 910 counties. NASS withholds 443 of those county figures to protect individual farms, so a withheld county could be larger than some listed here.
| County | Bushels | Share of US |
|---|---|---|
| Fremont County, ID | 6,627,560 | 4% |
| Minidoka County, ID | 5,150,639 | 3% |
| Bonneville County, ID | 5,088,059 | 3% |
| Twin Falls County, ID | 4,870,718 | 3% |
| Cassia County, ID | 4,260,740 | 3% |
| Jefferson County, ID | 3,622,584 | 2% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 3,575,838 | 2% |
| Teton County, MT | 3,556,303 | 2% |
| Toole County, MT | 3,148,416 | 2% |
| Jerome County, ID | 3,125,685 | 2% |
| Caribou County, ID | 2,890,386 | 2% |
| Madison County, ID | 2,887,589 | 2% |
| Bingham County, ID | 2,637,136 | 2% |
| Glacier County, MT | 2,635,797 | 2% |
| Wells County, ND | 2,436,032 | 1% |
How has US production of barley changed?
NASS annual estimates, 2018 to 2026.
When is barley harvested?
In 2026, the US harvest of barley was 10% done by the week ending August 9, half done by August 23 and 90% done by September 6.
NASS Crop Progress, 2026, from weekly US crop progress reports. Timing varies by state and year.
Barley by the numbers
Each note is calculated from USDA NASS data; the source is listed under it.
How concentrated
The top three states, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, account for 81% of the barley grown in the US.
NASS annual estimates, 2026
How widespread
Farms in 44 states reported barley in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, 9,112 farms in all.
2022 Census of Agriculture
Top county
Fremont County, Idaho has 4% of the barley grown in the US, the most of any county with a published figure.
2022 Census of Agriculture
Biggest year
The biggest year in NASS estimates since 2018 was 2023, at 186 million bushels.
NASS annual estimates
Long-time leader
Idaho has led NASS's state estimates for barley every year since 2016.
NASS annual estimates
Census to Census
US production of barley fell 53% between the 1997 and 2022 Censuses of Agriculture, from 346 million bushels to 163 million bushels.
Censuses of Agriculture, 1997 to 2022
About this data
State and national figures come from NASS's annual estimates (final 2026 figures; in-season forecasts are not used). County figures and the county map come from the 2022 Census of Agriculture, the only source that covers every county. NASS withholds some figures, marked "withheld", to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Quick Stats. Series: BARLEY - PRODUCTION, MEASURED IN BU; BARLEY - PRODUCTION, MEASURED IN BU. Data processed 2026-11-06. Methodology.