Any agricultural product cultivated primarily for market sale and revenue generation, rather than for subsistence or livestock feed on the same farm. These crops dictate the financial viability of commercial farming operations and are often subject to commodity market fluctuations.
Heard on the job
We're keeping the back forty in pasture, but soybeans are our main cash crop this year.
Do not mix it up with
- Subsistence crop: A cash crop is grown for money, while a subsistence crop is grown to feed the farmer's family.
Related terms
Subsistence crop
An agricultural crop grown primarily to feed the farmer's household.
Commodity exchange
A centralized market where agricultural products are bought and sold through standardized contracts.
Row crop
A crop planted in distinct, widely spaced rows to allow machinery to pass through for cultivation and harvesting.