Does the US Really Produce More Tobacco Than Wheat?

You might have heard that the United States produces more tobacco than wheat. It sounds plausible—after all, tobacco has deep roots in American history, from colonial Virginia to modern-day North Carolina. But here's the reality: it's completely false. The U.S. produces vastly more wheat than tobacco, and it's not even close.

In 2024, American farmers harvested 1.97 billion bushels of wheat—that's roughly 53.6 million metric tons. Meanwhile, tobacco production in 2023 clocked in at just 432.45 million pounds, or about 196,000 metric tons. Do the math, and wheat production is approximately 273 times greater than tobacco production by weight.

Why Would Anyone Think Tobacco Wins?

The confusion probably stems from tobacco's outsized cultural footprint. For centuries, tobacco was the cash crop of the American South. It fueled colonial economies, shaped labor systems, and remains iconic in states like North Carolina and Kentucky. Even today, North Carolina alone produced 205 million pounds of tobacco in 2024—more than any other state.

But cultural visibility doesn't equal agricultural dominance. Wheat is planted across 38.5 million acres of American farmland, from the Great Plains to the Pacific Northwest. North Dakota, the top wheat-producing state, harvested 367.7 million bushels in 2024. That's just one state, and it dwarfs the entire national tobacco output.

The Great Tobacco Decline

Here's another wrinkle: tobacco production has been in steep decline for decades. Between 2020 and 2025, the tobacco-growing industry shrank at an average rate of 5.3% per year. By 2028, production is expected to drop to just 102,000 metric tons—a 40% decline from 2023 levels.

What's driving the collapse? Smoking rates have plummeted to historic lows—just 10.8% of American adults smoked cigarettes in 2023. Vapes, nicotine pouches, and other alternatives have eaten into traditional tobacco demand. Meanwhile, wheat remains a dietary staple, feeding both Americans and global export markets.

So, What's Actually True?

The corrected fact is simple: the United States produces far more wheat than tobacco. It's not a close race. Wheat is a cornerstone of American agriculture, grown on millions of acres and measured in billions of bushels. Tobacco, while historically significant, is now a niche crop in decline.

The myth persists because tobacco feels important—it's wrapped up in American identity, politics, and nostalgia. But the numbers tell a different story. If you're looking for America's agricultural heavyweights, you'll find them in the wheat fields of Kansas and the Dakotas, not the tobacco patches of the South.