CROPS


The crop production index in 1997 for Illinois was 121 percent of the 1977 base. Farmers harvested 23.6 million acres of crops in 1997, up from 23.2 million acres in 1996. The value of the crops produced was 7.4 billion dollars, down five percent from 1996. This is the second highest value since records began in 1975.

Corn production in 1997, at 1.425 billion bushels, was down three percent from 1996. Acreage harvested for grain in 1997 was 11.1 million acres, up 250 thousand acres from 1996.

Production of soybeans totaled 427.9 million bushels, seven percent above the 1996 production. Soybean yields averaged 43.0 bushels per acre compared to 40.5 bushels per acre in 1996. Harvested acres totaled a record 9.95 million acres. This acreage is one percent greater than the previous record harvested acreage set in 1996.

Wheat acreage harvested increased in 1997 after farmers abandoned only four percent of the acres planted compared to 33 percent in 1996. Production, at 70.2 million bushels in 1997, was up 68 percent from 1996. Production increased due to the low abandoned acreage and the record yield of 61 bushels per acre, which was 23 bushels above the previous year.

Production of sorghum for grain in 1997 was 14.1 million bushels, down 24 percent from the 1996 production of 18.5 million bushels. Acreage harvested for grain totaled 155,000 acres, down 65,000 acres from the previous year. The average grain yield in 1997 was 91 bushels per acre, up seven bushels per acre from the previous year's yield.

Principal Crops        Other Crops

CROPS: Record highs through 1997, Illinois

Crops Unit Date series began Acres harvested Yield per acre Production
Year Acres Year Yield Year Production
        Thousands       Thousands
Corn for grain Bushels 1924 1976 11,590 1994 156 1994 1,786,200
 
Soybeans Bushels 1919 1997 9,950 1994 45.5 1994 429,065
 
Sorghum for grain                
Bushels 1931 1985 470 1992 103 1985 36,190
 
Wheat Bushels 1866 1919 4,103 1997 61.0 1989 105,020
                 
 
Oats Bushels 1866 1925 4,855 1989 80 1917 207,000
 
All hay Tons 1912 1940 3,523 1990 3.72 1956 5,065
Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service
Annual Summary - 1998		 Page 19


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