<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-11-050028.txt : 20110920
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-11-050028.hdr.sgml : 20110920
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110920182201
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-11-050028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110916
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110920
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110920

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARDING MARK A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001500811

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34249
		FILM NUMBER:		111100285

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20333 SOUTH NORMANDIE AVE.
		CITY:			TORRANCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92502

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FARMER BROTHERS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000034563
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS FOOD PREPARATIONS & KINDRED PRODUCTS [2090]
		IRS NUMBER:				950725980
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20333 S NORMANDIE AVE
		CITY:			TORRANCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90502
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3107875200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20333 SOUTH NORMANDIE AVENUE
		CITY:			TORRANCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90502
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd315258.xml
<DESCRIPTION>SEPTEMBER 2011 OPEN MARKET PURCHASE-HARDING
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-09-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000034563</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FARMER BROTHERS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FARM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001500811</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARDING MARK A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20333 SOUTH NORMANDIE AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TORRANCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90502</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SR. V.P. OPERATIONS</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock $1.00 par value</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-09-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2288</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10222</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Open market purchase</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes a total of 1,871 shares (including 534 shares in fiscal 2011) allocated as of the reporting date to the reporting person pursuant to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey A Wahba, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-09-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
