Farm Jobs in Missouri
Discover agricultural careers in Missouri, the Show-Me State with the second-most farms in America (88,000 farms, 88.3% family-owned) and exceptional agricultural diversity ranking top 10 nationally in seven commodities. With #2 beef cow inventory (1.86 million head, 7% of U.S. total), #7 soybeans (286 million bushels across 5.9 million acres), #4 rice production (219,000 acres in the Bootheel Delta), and #9 corn (562 million bushels), Missouri's $93.7 billion agriculture industry supports 460,000 jobs across distinct regions from the Mississippi Delta Bootheel to Northern grain belts to Southwest cattle country.
Major Cities with Farm Jobs:
1 Farm Job in Missouri
Farm Jobs in Missouri
Missouri agriculture generates $93.7 billion in total economic impact with $14.7 billion in direct market value of agricultural products sold ($7.9 billion crops, $6.8 billion livestock/poultry) across 88,000 farms operating on two-thirds of the state's total land acreage, supporting 460,000 jobs and 107,000+ wage and salary positions in food, agriculture, and forestry industries statewide (2022 Census of Agriculture). Missouri ranks as the second state nationally in total number of farms with exceptional family farm heritage: 88.3% of operations (77,594 farms) are family-owned, preserving multi-generational agricultural traditions across an average farm size of 308 acres. The state's agricultural strength stems from remarkable diversity, ranking top 10 nationally in seven major commodities: #2-3 in beef cows with 1.86 million head (up 2% in 2024, representing 7% of U.S. beef cow inventory) and 3.8 million total cattle (#6 nationally); #7 in soybeans with 5.90 million acres planted producing 286 million bushels (6% of U.S. production worth $2.1 billion); #9 in corn with 3.67 million acres harvested producing 562 million bushels ($1.7 billion value, with 2024 yields exceeding 200 bushels/acre in many regions); #4 in rice with 219,000 acres planted producing 18.0 million cwt (up 13% from 2023 with yields of 8,430 pounds per acre); #2 in hay production with 3.8 million acres harvested (#3 in hay acreage, $194 million value) making Missouri the second leading state in hay production excluding alfalfa; #7 in hogs (1.6% of U.S. inventory worth $926 million); and top 5 in cotton with 350,000-400,000 acres concentrated in five Bootheel counties ($294 million value). Additional significant commodities include broilers (#7 by head count, $707 million), turkeys (10% of U.S. production, $341 million), eggs ($219 million), dairy ($205 million from 494 permitted operations), and wheat (480,000 acres producing 36 million bushels). Missouri's geographic diversity creates distinct agricultural regions: the intensively cropped Bootheel in southeast Missouri (part of the Mississippi Delta with 6 counties generating over $1.2 billion annually in cotton, rice, soybeans, corn, melons, and specialty crops on fertile Delta soils with long growing seasons and plentiful irrigation); the Northern Plains grain belt above the Missouri River with deep glacial soils producing corn and soybeans on prime river bottom ground along the Missouri, Grand, and Chariton rivers; the Ozark Plateau covering southern two-thirds of the state with rolling hills used for pastureland, cattle operations, and forestry; and Southwest Missouri cattle country with extensive beef cattle grazing operations. Missouri also boasts unique agricultural heritage as a historic wine industry leader that saved the global wine industry with phylloxera-resistant rootstocks in the 1880s (the state was #1 by volume in the mid-1880s and #2 pre-Prohibition), established America's first American Viticultural Area (Augusta AVA in 1980), and now supports 130+ wineries generating $3.2-4.2 billion economic impact with the Norton/Cynthiana grape as the official state grape. With year-round agricultural opportunities, H-2A wages at $17.51/hour (2024 Cornbelt II rate), and employment pathways from spring planting (April-June) through fall harvest (September-November) across crops, livestock, and poultry operations, Missouri represents authentic American family farm agriculture at scale.
Why Work on Missouri Farms?
Missouri offers compelling advantages for farm workers seeking diverse agricultural experiences rooted in family farm traditions. The 2024 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate for the Cornbelt II region (Iowa and Missouri) stands at approximately $17.51/hour, with 1,091 H-2A petitions filed in agriculture/forestry/fishing/hunting (97.8% of all Missouri H-2A filings) and a 98.8% national approval rate. Missouri's agricultural diversityâone of the few states ranking top 10 in both major crops AND major livestockâcreates year-round employment opportunities across multiple specializations: row crop farming (soybeans, corn, cotton, rice, wheat), beef cattle operations (1.86 million beef cows, the second-largest herd nationally), hog production (1.6% of U.S. inventory), poultry operations (broilers, turkeys, eggs concentrated in southwest Missouri with major employers like Tyson in Noel and Smithfield in Milan), dairy farming (494 permitted operations), and hay production (3.8 million acres, #2 nationally). Workers experience distinct regional agricultural cultures: the Bootheel's intensive Delta agriculture with high percentages of tillable land, irrigation infrastructure, and long growing seasons producing cotton (Dunklin County: 162,100 acres; New Madrid: 101,600 acres; Pemiscot: 77,400 acres), rice (Butler County typically leads the state), soybeans, corn, and specialty crops like melons and peanuts; Northern Plains grain belt operations on deep, fertile glacial soils converted from vast prairies, producing massive corn and soybean yields along river bottoms; Ozark Plateau cattle operations on rolling hills with pastureland grazing; and Southwest Missouri cattle country with extensive beef cow-calf operations and grazing lands. Missouri's family farm heritage (88.3% family-owned operations) creates a different employment culture compared to corporate mega-farms, often emphasizing multi-generational knowledge transfer, diversified farm activities, and community-rooted agriculture. Workers gain experience across seasonal cycles: spring planting season (corn April 5-June 10 with peak activity April 20-May 25; soybeans late April-early July; cotton April 25-June 1; rice May 1-June 15 with peak May 20-June 15) and fall harvest season (soybeans and corn September-November with Missouri River bottoms starting early September; cotton and rice fall harvest; wheat spring harvest), providing employment flexibility from 7-month soybean seasons to year-round cattle/dairy/poultry positions. The state supports agricultural workers through 107,000+ wage and salary jobs in food/agriculture/forestry industries, with employment distributed 65% in urban counties but most concentrated in rural agricultural counties. Missouri agriculture values traditional farming knowledge while adopting modern practices, with opportunities to work on operations ranging from 308-acre family farms to large commercial operations in the Bootheel's intensively cropped region. Workers benefit from Missouri's central U.S. location with access to major markets via Kansas City and St. Louis agricultural corridors (Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, St. Louis Plant and Biotechnology Science corridor), strong agricultural infrastructure, and cultural diversity from the Mississippi Delta traditions of the Bootheel to Midwestern grain farming heritage to Ozark hill country livestock traditions. With 460,000 total jobs supported by agriculture (massive economic multiplier effect), pathways to farm ownership for beginning farmers among the 88,000 farms, and the opportunity to work in one of America's most agriculturally diverse states producing everything from rice and cotton to beef cattle and wine grapes, Missouri represents the heartland of American family farm agriculture.
Types of Farms in Missouri
Missouri agriculture spans remarkably diverse operations across distinct geographic regions. **Row Crop Farms** dominate the Bootheel (southeast Missouri) and Northern Plains, with soybean operations planting 5.90 million acres (2024, up 5%) producing 286 million bushels at 49 bushels/acre ($2.1 billion value, #7 nationally, 6% of U.S. production) concentrated on fertile Mississippi Delta soils in Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Stoddard, Butler, Scott, and Cape Girardeau counties, plus Northern grain belt operations on deep glacial soils above the Missouri River; corn operations harvesting 3.67 million acres producing 562 million bushels with 153 bushel/acre average yields (2024 saw 200+ bushels/acre in many areas, $1.7 billion value, #9 nationally) on prime Missouri River, Grand River, and Chariton River bottom ground; cotton farming on 350,000-400,000 acres concentrated in five Bootheel counties producing $294 million (top 5 nationally) with Dunklin County at 162,100 acres, New Madrid at 101,600 acres, and Pemiscot at 77,400 acres; rice production on 219,000 acres planted (2024, up 7%) producing 18.0 million cwt at 8,430 pounds/acre (#4 nationally) across 10 Bootheel counties with Butler County typically leading the state, growing not just traditional varieties but specialty jasmine, basmati, and arborio rice normally imported; and wheat operations harvesting 480,000 acres (down 20% in 2024) producing 36 million bushels at 75 bushels/acre ($128 million value). **Beef Cattle Operations** throughout the state manage 1.86 million beef cows (up 2% in 2024) and 3.8 million total cattle inventory (#2-3 nationally in beef cows, #6 overall, 7% of U.S. cattle), with cow-calf operations concentrated in Southwest Missouri cattle country and Ozark Plateau regions utilizing rolling hills, pastureland, and grazing lands unsuitable for row crops due to low pH soils, bedrock, and fragipan limitations; these operations offer year-round employment in herd management, pasture rotation, calving seasons, cattle handling, range management, and marketing, with Missouri's beef cattle industry worth $1.9 billion making it the second-largest commodity by value. **Hog Operations** produce 1.6% of U.S. hog inventory worth $926 million (#7 nationally, fourth-largest commodity), with modern confinement operations offering year-round positions in breeding, farrowing, nursery management, finishing operations, feed management, and facility maintenance, including major employers like Smithfield's processing facility in Milan (Sullivan County, which has 3.4 times the average U.S. county agricultural employment). **Poultry Operations** concentrate in southwest Missouri, producing broilers worth $707 million (#7 nationally by head count), turkeys representing 10% of U.S. production worth $341 million, and eggs worth $219 million; workers find employment at integrated operations including Tyson's facility in Noel (McDonald County, 3.4 times average ag employment) in growing, processing, feed management, flock health, and facility operations. **Dairy Farms** operate 494 permitted dairy operations producing $205 million in milk value (#25 in number of cows, #26 in milk production nationally) with average production of 14,045 pounds per cow (2022), offering year-round positions in milking operations (typically 2-3 times daily), herd health management, feed formulation, calf raising, and pasture/crop management for feed production. **Hay and Forage Operations** manage 3.8 million acres (#3 nationally in hay acreage, #2 in hay production excluding alfalfa) producing $194 million in value with 400,000+ alfalfa acres yielding 2.99 tons/acre; these operations involve multiple cuttings throughout the growing season (April-October), mechanized mowing, raking, baling, storage management, and marketing to cattle/dairy/horse operations, providing seasonal employment with peak activity during summer cutting seasons. **Specialty Crop Farms** in the Bootheel produce melons, peanuts, and other high-value crops on long-season Delta soils with irrigation infrastructure. **Vineyards and Wineries** across Missouri (130+ wineries supporting a $3.2-4.2 billion industry with 875,000+ annual wine tourists) grow Norton/Cynthiana (official state grape) and other varieties, requiring specialized viticulture knowledge for pruning, canopy management, harvest, and winemaking operations, continuing Missouri's historic wine heritage from when the state saved the global wine industry with phylloxera-resistant rootstocks and ranked #1 nationally by volume in the mid-1880s. **Mixed Family Farms** throughout Missouri (88.3% of 88,000 farms are family-owned) often combine multiple enterprisesâcattle, hay, row crops, poultry, and specialty productsâcreating diverse employment requiring versatility across livestock care, crop production, equipment operation, and seasonal labor management typical of traditional Midwestern family farm operations averaging 308 acres.
Getting Started with Farm Work in Missouri
Missouri agricultural employment follows distinct seasonal patterns with opportunities year-round across different sectors. **Spring planting season** (April through June) offers the most intensive row crop employment: corn planting runs April 5-June 10 with peak activity April 20-May 25; soybeans plant late April through early July; cotton planting occurs April 25-June 1 with peak May 5-May 20; and rice planting spans May 1-June 15 with peak activity May 20-June 15. Aspiring farm workers should seek positions starting in late March through April as operations prepare equipment, purchase inputs, and staff up for planting season across the Bootheel's intensive Delta agriculture region and Northern Plains grain belt. **Fall harvest season** (September through November) provides peak employment opportunities as soybeans and corn harvest begins in early September (Missouri River bottoms start earliest), cotton and rice harvest runs through fall months, and wheat harvest occurs in spring/early summer; this 3-month period requires maximum labor for equipment operation, grain handling, trucking, storage management, and field preparation for next season. **Year-round positions** are available in livestock operations including beef cattle (1.86 million beef cows requiring continuous care), dairy operations (494 permitted dairies with twice or thrice-daily milking), hog production (confinement operations with constant breeding/farrowing/finishing cycles), and poultry operations (broiler, turkey, and egg production facilities with continuous flock management). The primary agricultural employment centers are: **Sikeston** (Scott County) - major Bootheel agricultural service center located on Sikeston Ridge serving the intensive Delta crop region; **Kennett** (Dunklin County) - cotton and rice hub on Kennett Ridge in the state's top cotton-producing county (162,100 acres); **Caruthersville** (Pemiscot County) - agriculture comprises 60% of city revenue, serving cotton, rice, and soybean operations; **New Madrid** (New Madrid County) - major farming community on Sikeston Ridge in the second-largest cotton county (101,600 acres); **Milan** (Sullivan County) - home to Smithfield processing facility creating 3.4 times the average U.S. county agricultural employment concentration; and **Noel** (McDonald County) - location of Tyson processing facility with 3.4 times average ag employment, serving southwest Missouri's poultry region. Other significant agricultural communities include Malden (Dunklin County on Kennett Ridge), plus counties with 2,000+ agricultural jobs: Barry County, Perry County, and major urban agricultural corridors in St. Louis (5,000+ food/ag/forestry jobs in Plant and Biotechnology Science corridor), Kansas City (5,000+ jobs in Animal Health Corridor), Buchanan County (5,000+ jobs), and Jasper County (5,000+ jobs). Missouri agriculture extensively utilizes the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program with 1,091 petitions filed in agriculture/forestry/fishing/hunting (97.8% of all Missouri H-2A filings) and 98.8% approval rates nationally; the 2024 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate for the Cornbelt II region (Iowa and Missouri) is approximately $17.51/hour with mandatory employer-provided housing, transportation assistance, and federal worker protections. Employers value workers with experience in row crop production (planting, cultivating, harvesting soybeans, corn, cotton, rice), livestock handling (cattle, hogs, poultry), equipment operation (tractors, combines, planters, irrigation systems), and regional adaptability to Missouri's diverse agricultural systems from Delta irrigation farming to dryland grain production to pasture-based cattle operations. Missouri offers clear advancement pathways: the state supports beginning farmers among its 88,000 farms, and experienced workers can progress from seasonal field labor to equipment operation specialists, crew leadership, farm management, livestock specialists, or farm ownership, particularly within the 88.3% family-owned operations that often value long-term relationships and knowledge transfer across generations. Organizations like University of Missouri Extension, Missouri Farm Bureau, and commodity groups provide training, certifications, and networking opportunities. Workers should prepare for Missouri's climate variations: hot, humid summers during growing season (é©ć for cotton and rice in the Bootheel's long growing season), spring planting windows affected by soil conditions and weather patterns, fall harvest pressure to complete before winter weather, and year-round outdoor work in livestock operations requiring cold tolerance for winter cattle care and calving seasons. The Bootheel region offers the most intensive crop employment with high percentages of tillable land and plentiful irrigation infrastructure on fertile Delta soils, while Northern Missouri grain belt operations work vast prairies of glacial soils, and Southwest/Ozark regions focus more on cattle operations and pastureland management. Housing availability varies by region and employer, with H-2A workers receiving mandatory employer-provided housing inspected for federal compliance, while local workers often find housing in agricultural communities throughout rural Missouri where cost of living is generally lower than urban areas. Missouri's cultural agricultural heritage, family farm dominance (second-most farms in America), exceptional commodity diversity (top 10 in seven categories), and multi-generational farming traditions create employment opportunities for workers seeking authentic Midwestern family farm experiences combined with modern commercial agriculture scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are farm worker wages in Missouri?
The 2024 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate for the Cornbelt II region (Iowa and Missouri) is approximately $17.51/hour, one of 13 states with AEWR between $17-$17.99/hour. This rate increased 25 cents or 1.4% from the previous year (the smallest increase nationally) and became effective December 30, 2024 following delays due to injunctions on the Farmworker Protection Rule. H-2A positions include mandatory employer-provided housing, transportation assistance, and worker protections under federal regulations. Missouri filed 1,091 H-2A petitions in agriculture/forestry/fishing/hunting in 2024 (97.8% of all state H-2A filings) with 98.8% approval rates nationally. Seasonal farm worker wages typically range $12-$24/hour based on job type, experience, and season, with major employers like Smithfield (Milan, Sullivan County) and Tyson (Noel, McDonald County) offering competitive wages and benefits for poultry and pork processing positions. The state's 460,000 agriculture-supported jobs include 107,000+ wage and salary positions in food, agriculture, and forestry industries.
What makes Missouri agriculture so diverse?
Missouri is one of the few states ranking top 10 nationally in both major crops AND major livestock, creating exceptional agricultural diversity. The state ranks top 10 in seven commodities: #2-3 in beef cows (1.86 million head), #7 in soybeans (286 million bushels on 5.9 million acres), #9 in corn (562 million bushels), #4 in rice (219,000 acres), #2 in hay production (3.8 million acres), #7 in hogs, and top 5 in cotton (350,000-400,000 acres). This diversity stems from Missouri's geographic extremes: the Mississippi Delta Bootheel region in the southeast with fertile soils, long growing seasons, and irrigation infrastructure perfect for cotton, rice, soybeans, and specialty crops; Northern Plains above the Missouri River with deep glacial soils ideal for corn and soybeans; the Ozark Plateau covering two-thirds of the state with rolling hills suited for pastureland and cattle operations; and Southwest cattle country with extensive grazing lands. Additional commodities include broilers ($707 million), turkeys (10% of U.S. production), dairy ($205 million), wheat (480,000 acres), and a historic wine industry (130+ wineries, $3.2-4.2 billion impact) dating to when Missouri saved the global wine industry with phylloxera-resistant rootstocks in the 1880s.
Why does Missouri have the second-most farms in America?
Missouri ranks #2 nationally with 88,000 farms, reflecting the state's strong family farm heritage and agricultural tradition. Remarkably, 88.3% of these farms (77,594 operations) are family-owned, preserving multi-generational agricultural knowledge and community-rooted farming practices across an average farm size of 308 acres. This contrasts with states dominated by large corporate operations. Missouri's high farm count stems from several factors: two-thirds of the state's total land acreage remains in farms; the diverse geography supports varied farm types from small cattle operations in the Ozarks to intensive Delta crop farms in the Bootheel to grain operations in northern Missouri; the state's central location provides access to major markets via Kansas City and St. Louis; and recent Census data shows dramatic increases in small family farms bucking national consolidation trends. These 88,000 farms collectively generate $14.7 billion in direct sales ($7.9 billion crops, $6.8 billion livestock) with a $93.7 billion total economic impact, proving that family-scale operations can compete effectively in modern agriculture when supported by strong infrastructure, Extension services, and commodity organizations.
What is the Bootheel region and why is it important?
The Bootheel is Missouri's southeast region (named for the shape on the map) comprising 10 counties that are part of the Mississippi Deltaâthe most intensively cropped area in the state. Six Bootheel counties alone (Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Stoddard, Butler, Scott) generate over $1.2 billion in agricultural sales annually, with 90%+ from crops. The region's importance stems from fertile Delta soils, long growing seasons, plentiful irrigation infrastructure drawing from the Mississippi River, and high percentages of tillable land ideal for intensive agriculture. The Bootheel dominates Missouri's production of cotton (350,000-400,000 acres concentrated in five counties, with Dunklin at 162,100 acres, New Madrid at 101,600 acres, Pemiscot at 77,400 acres), rice (#4 nationally with 219,000 acres across 10 Bootheel counties, Butler County typically leading), and contributes significantly to soybean, corn, melon, and peanut production. Major agricultural centers include Sikeston (Scott County), Kennett (Dunklin County), Caruthersville (Pemiscot County where agriculture is 60% of city revenue), and New Madrid. The Bootheel's Delta heritage creates a distinct agricultural culture more similar to Arkansas and Mississippi than to northern Missouri, with specialized expertise in irrigation management, Delta soils, and crops rarely grown elsewhere in the state like rice and specialty varieties (jasmine, basmati, arborio).
Is housing provided on Missouri farms?
Yes, housing is mandatory for all H-2A temporary agricultural workers and must meet federal inspection standards for safety, sanitation, and adequacy. H-2A housing is employer-provided at no cost to workers and typically includes dormitory-style or barracks accommodations with cooking facilities, bathrooms, sleeping quarters, and common areas. Missouri filed 1,091 H-2A petitions in agriculture/forestry/fishing/hunting in 2024 (97.8% of all state filings), indicating substantial use of the H-2A program particularly during spring planting (April-June) and fall harvest (September-November) seasons. Large operations in the Bootheel cotton/rice region, Northern grain belt soybean/corn farms, and livestock facilities often maintain worker housing on farm properties or nearby. Major employers like Smithfield (Milan, Sullivan County) and Tyson (Noel, McDonald County) may offer housing assistance or referrals as part of employment packages. For local workers, housing is typically found in agricultural communities throughout rural MissouriâBootheel towns like Sikeston, Kennett, Caruthersville, New Madrid, and Malden; northern farming communities near grain operations; or livestock regions in southwest and Ozark areasâwhere cost of living is generally lower than urban Missouri. The mix of H-2A workers (with guaranteed housing), seasonal workers returning annually to family farm operations, and year-round livestock/poultry facility employees creates diverse housing arrangements tailored to workforce needs across Missouri's 88,000 farms.
What are the planting and harvest seasons in Missouri?
Missouri's agricultural seasons vary by crop and region, creating overlapping employment opportunities. **Spring Planting Season (April-June)**: Corn planting runs April 5-June 10 with peak activity April 20-May 25; soybeans plant late April through early July; cotton planting occurs April 25-June 1 with peak May 5-May 20 (Bootheel only); and rice planting spans May 1-June 15 with peak May 20-June 15 (Bootheel only). **Fall Harvest Season (September-November)**: Soybeans harvest September-November (7-month growing season from April planting); corn harvest begins early September in Missouri River bottoms and continues through fall; cotton harvest runs through fall months; rice harvest occurs in fall; and spring wheat harvests in early summer. **Regional Differences**: The Bootheel has longer growing seasons than northern Missouri due to southern latitude and Delta climate, allowing cotton and rice production impossible further north. **Year-Round Operations**: Beef cattle (1.86 million cows), dairy (494 operations), hogs, and poultry offer continuous employment with calving seasons, milking schedules, farrowing cycles, and flock management throughout the year. **Hay Production**: Multiple cuttings April-October with peak summer activity. The absolute peak employment periods are late April through June (planting season) and September through November (harvest season), making these ideal windows for seeking seasonal farm work in Missouri's diverse agricultural regions from the Delta Bootheel to Northern grain belts to Ozark cattle country.
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