<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000034563-17-000156.txt : 20171212
<SEC-HEADER>0000034563-17-000156.hdr.sgml : 20171212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171212211812
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000034563-17-000156
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171212
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171212

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RITTERBUSH DAVID W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001725036

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34249
		FILM NUMBER:		171252899

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 77057
		CITY:			FORT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76177

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_151313147783252.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-12-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001725036</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RITTERBUSH DAVID W</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1901</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1901</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock under the Farmer Bros. Co. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (&quot;Plan&quot;), granted on December 8, 2017 (&quot;Grant Date&quot;); the restricted stock cliff vests on the earlier of (i) the one year anniversary of the Grant Date or (ii) the date of the first annual meeting of the Company's stockholders immediately following the Grant Date (as applicable, the &quot;Vesting Date&quot;), subject to continued service to the Company through the Vesting Date and the acceleration provisions of the Plan and restricted stock grant agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas J. Mattei, Jr., Attorney-In-Fact for David W. Ritterbush</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-12-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
