<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000034563-17-000102.txt : 20171114
<SEC-HEADER>0000034563-17-000102.hdr.sgml : 20171114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171114205900
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000034563-17-000102
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Robson David
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001317553

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34249
		FILM NUMBER:		171203694

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FARMER BROS.CO.
		STREET 2:		1912 FARMER BROTHERS DR
		CITY:			NORTHLAKE
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76262

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:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1912 FARMER BROTHERS DRIVE
		CITY:			NORTHLAKE
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76262
		BUSINESS PHONE:		888 998 2468

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 77057
		CITY:			FORT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76177
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_151071112596613.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-11-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001317553</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Robson David</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FARMER BROS CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1912 FARMER BROTHERS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTHLAKE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>76262</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>TREASURER, CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>947</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>947</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.7</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-10</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5764</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-11-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>5764</value>
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            </securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-10</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12699</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>18463</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (PBRSUs)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12699</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-11-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12699.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12699</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock under the Farmer Bros. Co. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (&quot;Plan&quot;) pursuant to the reporting person's employment agreement with the Issuer; 100% of the total shares vest on November 10, 2020, subject to certain continued employment conditions and subject to accelerated vesting in certain circumstances.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant of non-qualified stock option under the Plan pursuant to  the reporting person's employment agreement with the Issuer; the stock option vests pursuant to a three year vesting schedule, whereby one-third of the total number of shares issuable under the option becomes exercisable each year on the anniversary of the grant date, commencing on November 10, 2018,  subject to certain continued employment conditions and subject to accelerated vesting in certain circumstances.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Grant of non-qualified stock option under the Plan; the stock option vests pursuant to a three year vesting schedule, whereby one-third of the total number of shares issuable under the option becomes exercisable each year on the anniversary of the grant date, commencing on November 10, 2018, subject to certain continued employment conditions and subject to accelerated vesting in certain circumstances.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Grant of performance-based restricted stock units (&quot;PBRSUs&quot;) under the Plan. The target number of PBRSUs is presented in the table. Subject to certain continued employment conditions and subject to accelerated vesting in certain circumstances, the PBRSUs are scheduled to vest based on achievement of certain financial performance goals for the performance period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. At the end of the three-year performance period, the number of PBRSUs that actually vest will be 0% to 150% of the target amount, depending on the extent to which Farmer Bros. Co. meets or exceeds certain financial performance goals measured over the full three-year performance period. The maximum number of PBRSUs that may vest at the end of the three-year performance period is 19,048 (150% of the target amount).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas J. Mattei, Jr., Attorney-In-Fact for David G. Robson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
