GENERAL INFORMATION
Agriculture has always been a vital part of the lives of Illinois citizens and the economy of the state. Illinois is gifted with some of the richest agricultural resources in the world. The fertile soil, favorable climate, availability of excellent transportation via water, highway, rail and air, good marketing opportunities and a productive work force are some of the many resources that allows Illinois to be recognized as a world supplier of food and fiber. The variations in soil types, climate and topography in the state make it possible for Illinois farmers to produce a wide variety of agricultural commodities. Approximately 1,500 different soil types can be found in Illinois.
"VALUE ADDED" AGRICULTURE
Food and agricultural product manufacturing and processing contribute significantly to the state's economy. Illinois ranks among the leading states in the number of food and agricultural processing companies in the state, including meat packing, soybean processing, dairy manufacturing, corn processing, feed milling, vegetable processing and many others. Approximately 1,400 food companies are located in Illinois. Furthermore, Illinois ranks number one among all states in the production of ethanol. According to the Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois companies produce approximately 678 million gallons of ethanol annually from approximately 274.2 million bushels of corn.
AGRICULTURAL DIVERSITY
The diversity in soil types allows farmers to grow many well known crops and lesser known specialty crops including alfalfa, amaranth, apples, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, buckwheat, canola, Christmas trees, clover, cucumbers, field corn, ginseng, grain sorghum, herbs, horseradish, mushrooms, nursery products, oats, peaches, popcorn, potatoes, potted plants, rye, seed corn, snap beans, sod, soybeans, strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, winter wheat and others. Livestock is produced using a wide variety of methods ranging from one ostrich in a pen to thousands of head of hogs in total production confinement. Other agricultural animals raised include beef cattle, broilers, buffalo, catfish, crayfish, dairy cattle, dairy goats, deer, emus, horses, hybrid striped bass, layers, mink, minnows, rabbits, sheep, tilapia, turkeys and others.
FARMS AND LAND VALUES
In 1996, there were 76,000 farms in Illinois that contained 28.1 million acres of land. The average size of the farms in 1996 was 370 acres. The average per acre nominal value of farm real estate in 1996 was $2,064 per acre, which compared to $1,863 per acre in 1995.
COMMODITY PRODUCTION
Production of corn for grain during 1996 totaled 1.47 billion bushels, 30 percent more than produced in 1995. The corn yield averaged 136 bushels per acre which was the third highest yield on record behind 156 bushels per acre in 1994 and 149 bushels per acre in 1992. Soybean production in 1996 totaled 398.9 million bushels, which was five percent above 1995. The soybean yield in 1996 was 40.5 bushels per acre, one and a half bushels above 1995 but five bushels below the record set in 1994 of 45.5 bushels per acre.
In 1996, Illinois pork producers produced 1.95 billion pounds of pork, ranking Illinois fourth among all states. Pork production declined eleven percent from the previous year. Cattle and calf production during 1996 totaled 654.1 million pounds, nine percent below the production of 1995. Illinois ranked 17th in the United States in marketings of cattle and calves.
CASH RECEIPTS
In 1996, total cash receipts from farm marketings in Illinois totaled 9.1 billion dollars, which was seven percent above 1995. Illinois ranked 5th among all states in total cash receipts in 1996. Crop cash receipts in Illinois in 1996 totaled 7.0 billion dollars, which was seven percent more than 1995 and placed Illinois third among all states in total crop cash receipts in 1996. Livestock and livestock products cash receipts in Illinois in 1996 totaled 2.1 billion dollars, which was seven percent above 1995 and placed Illinois 16th among all states in total livestock and livestock products cash receipts in 1996.
In 1995, corn accounted for 39.9 percent of the total crop cash receipts in Illinois and soybeans accounted for 28.9 percent. All other crops combined accounted for 8.4 percent of the total crop cash receipts in Illinois. Compared to 1994, cash receipts for corn increased 18 percent and cash receipts for soybeans increased three percent in 1995.
In 1995, hogs accounted for 10.6 percent of the total cash receipts in Illinois while cattle and calves accounted for 7.4 percent and dairy products accounted for 3.6 percent of the total cash receipts. All other livestock combined accounted for 1.2 percent of the total cash receipts in Illinois in 1995. Compared to 1994, cash receipts decreased five percent for hogs, seven percent for cattle and nine percent for dairy products in 1995.
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
During the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, Illinois' export shares totaled 3.98 billion dollars, which ranked Illinois third among all states in total agricultural exports. During the same year, Illinois ranked second in the export of feed grains and products, second in soybeans and products, 13th in wheat and products and sixth in live animals and meat.