NAICS 423820

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the U.S. standard for grouping business establishments so federal statistical agencies can collect, analyze, and publish economic data. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget and adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, NAICS is jointly maintained with Canada and Mexico and updated every five years, most recently in 2022. ¹

NAICS 423820 covers merchant wholesalers that primarily distribute specialized machinery, equipment, and related parts used in agriculture and in lawn and garden activities. It sits within NAICS subsector 4238 (Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers) and is used by federal statistical programs and the Economic Census to tabulate wholesale trade activity. ³

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 423820 overview
• G2X — NAICS 333111 Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing
• G2X — NAICS 333112 Lawn and Garden Tractor and Home Lawn and Garden Equipment Manufacturing

What this NAICS covers

• Wholesale distribution of farm machinery and equipment (e.g., tractors), including related parts. ³
• Wholesale distribution of powered lawn and garden equipment (e.g., lawnmowers), including related parts. ³
• Wholesale distribution of milking machinery and dairy equipment. ³
• Wholesale distribution of planting and seeding machinery and equipment. ³
• Wholesale distribution of harvesting machinery and equipment. ³
• Wholesale distribution of animal feeders and similar agricultural apparatus. ³

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Placement in Census program structure

Within the Census Bureau’s Enterprise Statistics Program, 423820 appears under employer category 423R (Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers), nested in Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade). This placement guides how economic statistics are collected and published for this industry. ⁶

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 423820?

  • Establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of specialized agricultural, farm, and lawn-and-garden machinery, equipment, and related parts. This includes products such as mowers, harvesters, seeders, and milking equipment. ³

• What kinds of products are commonly wholesaled under this code?

  • Examples include powered lawn and garden equipment, animal feeders, milking machines, planting/seeders, and harvesting machinery, along with related parts and attachments. See also on G2X: NAICS 333111 and NAICS 333112. ³

• How does NAICS 423820 differ from manufacturing or retail codes?

  • 423820 classifies merchant wholesalers. Manufacturing of such equipment is covered in NAICS 333111 and 333112, while retailing comparable goods falls under the Retail Trade sector (e.g., garden centers and farm supply stores). ³

• Is distribution of used farm and garden equipment included?

  • NAICS defines merchant wholesale distribution without specifying new versus used equipment. Not specified by official sources. ³

• What is the current NAICS vintage used by Census for publishing data?

  • The Census Bureau is implementing the 2022 NAICS vintage across programs, with most transitioning by the end of calendar year 2027; the 2022 Economic Census began publishing on the 2022 basis. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 423820 overview
• Census: Economic Census — 2022 NAICS Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade) data tables. ⁵
• Census: The Census Bureau’s implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and program adoption). ²
• Census: Industry and Occupation — background on NAICS, OMB role, and update years (including 2022). ¹
• NAICS Manual (industry definitions and examples for 423820 and related codes). ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau, About Industry and Occupation Classification (NAICS origin under OMB, adoption in 1997, and update years including 2022). https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/industry.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau, The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and adoption across programs). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
3. Executive Office of the President, OMB; U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 NAICS Manual (industry definition and illustrative examples for 423820; related manufacturing/retail references). https://www2.census.gov/library/reference/naics/publications/2017-NAICS-Manual.pdf
4. Acquisition.gov, DFARS PGI 208.7006 Coordinated acquisition assignments (PSC listings including 3710 and 3720 descriptors). https://www.acquisition.gov/node/55785/printable/print
5. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS Sector 42 — Wholesale Trade (Economic Census data tables). https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html
6. U.S. Census Bureau, Employer Categories and Corresponding Establishment NAICS Industries (423R and 423820 placement). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/esp/guidance/employer.html