Top 5 Largest Agricultural Companies by Revenue in the US

1. Cargill

Total revenue of the company in 2019 (in millions of dollars): 113,500

Topping the list of the 5 biggest agricultural companies by revenue in the US is Cargill, and it is so far ahead of its competition, it’s like Lewis Hamilton in the F1 championship. Of the combined revenues of the top 10 agricultural companies in the US, more than 56% comes from Cargill alone, which is also the largest private company in the entire United States by revenue. Founded in 1865, the companies is 155 years old and has been majority owned by the Cargill family which is one of the wealthiest families in the world. And with 14 separate billionaires in the family, it is also the family with the most billionaires in the entire world. Had it been a public company, it would’ve ranked number 15 in the Fortune 500 list of biggest companies in the US.

The company also owns assets of nearly $60 billion, while also having a net income crossing the $3 billion threshold. It provides employment to over 166,000 people and is majorly involved in the purchasing, trading and and distribution of gain, in addition to various other agricultural commodities which includes the likes of palm oil. Further, the company has also been known to be involved in raising livestock and producing feed in addition to other food products which can include glucose syrup, vegetable oil, fats and starch. It used to own two thirds of the biggest fertilizer company in the world as well, in the Mosaic Company, though this share was sold off back in 2011. A quarter of all US grain exports are made through Cargill, showcasing its size, strength and power. A surprising fact that many people may now know is that every egg used in McDonalds, which is one of the largest fast food restaurants in the world, is sourced from one of the factories of Cargill.

As is true for all major companies, Cargill has often been found engaged in various controversies which has seen its reputation diminish, with human rights abuses and land grabs topping the list. In addition to these two accusations, it has also been accused of food contamination, deforestation, tax evasion and air pollution, all of which are grievous charges on their own, let alone combined.

See also: 10 largest fruit and vegetable producing countries in the world and top 25 agricultural producing companies in the world

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