ILLINOIS
FARM REPORT


RELEASED: February 2, 2000 IFR-00-03
NASS Logo   Illinois
  Agricultural
  Statistics Service
P.O. Box 19283, Springfield, IL 62794
Phone: (217) 492-4295
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Illinois Department of Agriculture
http://www.agr.state.il.us/agstats.htm

VOL. 21, NO. 3

CATTLE & CALVES

The inventory of cattle and calves in Illinois on January 1, 2000 was 1,510,000 head, unchanged from the revised January 1, 1999 inventory. Beef cow numbers increased three percent to 480,000 and milk cows decreased by 5,000 to 120,000 head. Both beef cow replacement heifer and milk cow replacement heifer January 1 inventories remained unchanged from last year, at 55,000 and 60,000 head, respectively, but other heifers decreased five percent to 200,000 head. Steers were down three percent to 295,000 head, while bulls remained unchanged at 30,000 head. Cattle and calves on feed were down four percent to 230,000 head. A total of 550,000 calves were born on Illinois farms in 1999, with 270,000 head under 500 pounds still on hand January 1, 2000.

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2000, totaled 98.0 million head, one percent below the 99.1 million on January 1, 1999. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.7 million, were slightly below the 42.9 million on January 1, 1999. Beef cows, at 33.5 million, were down one percent from January 1, 1999. Milk cows, at 9.19 million, were up one percent. All heifers 500 pounds and over, at 19.5 million, were down one percent from 1999. Beef replacement heifers, at 5.53 million, were down slightly from a year earlier. Milk replacement heifers, at 3.95 million, were down three percent from last year. Total inventory for other heifers was 10.0 million head, down one percent from 1999. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over, at 16.7 million, were down one percent from 1999. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, at 2.29 million, were up one percent from a year earlier. Total cattle and calves on feed were up nearly six percent from 1999 to 14.0 million head. Calves under 500 pounds, at 16.8 million, were down three percent from 1999. The 1999 calf crop was estimated at 38.7 million head, down slightly from the 1998 calf crop.

CATTLE AND CALVES: INVENTORY & CALF CROP, ILLINOIS & UNITED STATES



Class		 Illinois United States
Jan. 1,
1999		 Jan. 1,
2000		 2000 as %
of 1999		 Jan. 1,
1999		 Jan. 1,
2000		 2000 as %
of 1999
 

1,000 head

  

1,000 head

 
Cattle and calves 1,510 1,510 100 99,115.0 98,048.0 99
Beef cows that have calved 465 480 103 33,745.4 33,546.0 99
Milk cows that have calved 125 120 96 9,133.0 9,187.8 101
Beef cow replacement heifers 500 lbs. & over 55 55 100 5,535.3 5,529.8 100
Milk cow replacement heifers 500 lbs. & over 60 60 100 4,068.8 3,953.7 97
Other heifers 500 lbs. & over 210 200 95 10,170.1 10,044.8 99
Steers 500 lbs. & over 305 295 97 16,890.9 16,652.2 99
Bulls 500 lbs. & over 30 30 100 2,281.1 2,293.7 101
Heifers, steers & bulls under 500 lbs. 260 270 104 17,290.4 16,840.0 97
Cattle and calves on feed 240 230 96 13,219 13,983 106
  1998 1999 1999 as %
of 1998		 1998 1999 1999 as %
of 1998
Calves born 540 550 102 38,812.1 38,710.4 100
Number of operations with cattle and calves 26,000 26,000 100 1,115,650 1,095,960 98
Number of operations with beef cows 17,700 17,700 100 855,460 843,230 99
Number of operations with milk cows 2,300 2,200 96 117,180 111,220 95

MILK PRODUCTION

Milk production in Illinois totaled 173 million pounds in December 1999, down three percent from December 1998. The number of milk cows on farms averaged 121,000 head, compared to 125,000 head the same time a year earlier.

 December milk production in the 20 States totaled 11.9 billion pounds, four percent above production in these same states in December 1998. Production per cow averaged 1,536 pounds, up 47 pounds from a year earlier. There were 7.76 million head of milk cows on farms in December 1999, 52,000 head above the previous year.

MILK PRODUCTION: ILLINOIS & 20 STATES, DECEMBER 1998-99

Milk Production December
Illinois United States

1998		 1999 1999 as %
 of 1998		 1998 1999 1999 as %
 of 1998
Number of milk cows Head (000) 125 121 97 7,708 7,760 101
Milk production per cow Lbs. 1,420 1,430 101 1,489 1,536 103
Total milk production Mil. lbs. 178 173 97 11,481 11,918 104

CHICKENS

Illinois chicken inventory during December 1999 was 4.12 million, up 18 percent from a year earlier. Layers one year old and older were down 16 percent while layers 20 weeks old but less than one year increased by 79 percent. Pullets 13 weeks old but less than 20 weeks increased 13 percent for the second year in a row. Pullets under 13 weeks old increased from 329,000 to 416,000 and other chickens decreased from 29,000 to 26,000.

The U.S. chicken inventory during December 1999 was 436.3 million, up three percent from a year earlier. Layers one year old and older is basically unchanged while layers 20 weeks old but less than one year increased four percent. Pullets 13 weeks old but less than 20 weeks decreased three percent to 38.6 million. Pullets under 13 weeks increased five percent and other chickens increased 26 percent.

CHICKENS: ILLINOIS & UNITED STATES, DECEMBER 1998-99

Class		 December
Illinois United States
1998 1999 1999 as %
of 1998		 1998 1999 1999 as % of
1998
     1,000 head       

1,000 head

        
Layers 1 yr. old & older 1,880 1,580 84 151,298 151,914 100
Layers 20 wks. old but less than 1 yr. 1,049 1,880 179 170,420 177,391 104
Pullets 13 wks. old & older but less than 20 wks. 197 222 113 39,664 38,587 97
Pullet Chicks & Pullets under 13 wks. of age 329 416 126 55,981 58,775 105
Other Chickens 29 26 90 7,682 9,659 126
Total Number of Chickens 3,484 4,124 118 425,045 436,326 103
Average Value per Head (dollars) 1.60 1.60 --      2.69 2.65 --    

TURKEYS

Turkeys raised in Illinois during 1999 totaled 2.9 million, nine percent below 1998. In the United States, a total of 273 million turkeys were raised, down four percent from 1998. North Carolina ranked first with 46.5 million and Minnesota was second with 43.5 million.

TURKEYS: ILLINOIS & UNITED STATES, 1998-99

Illinois United States

1998		 1999 1999 as %
of 1998		 1998 1999 1999 as %
of 1998
   

1,000 head

  

1,000 head

   
Number Raised 3,200 2,900 91 285,204 272,994 96

AGRICULTURAL PRICES

January prices received by Illinois farmers for all commodities increased one point from December, and was at 77 percent of the base. The current year's base is computed by multiplying the average production for the five-year period by the average price for each year. These five years are summed and then divided by five to arrive at an average (base) for the period. The current five-year average production is then multiplied by the current price and divided by the average for the five years to arrive at the current index. The January all crops index, at 72 percent of the base, was one point more than the revised December figure but 11 points less than January 1999. Prices increased for corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat and oats. The all livestock index was at 90 percent of the base, unchanged from the revised December figure. This was eight points more than January 1999. The price of hogs, calves and milk increased, while the price of beef cattle decreased. The hog-corn ratio was at 17.3.

The preliminary U.S. All Farm Products Index of Prices Received in January was 90 based on 1990-92=100, down two points from the December index. Lower prices for broilers, milk, turkeys and tomatoes more than offset price increases for corn, lettuce, soybeans and cotton. The seasonal change in the mix of commodities farmers sell also affects the overall index. Lower seasonal marketings of cotton, tobacco, grapes and cottonseed more than offset the relatively higher marketings of corn, soybeans, cattle and rice. These marketing changes account for one point of the January index decrease. Compared with January 1999, the All Farm Products Index was seven points lower. Price decreases from January 1999 for milk, soybeans, cotton and corn more than offset price increases for cattle, hogs, lettuce and apples.

INDEX OF PRICES RECEIVED BY FARMERS
Commodity Dec. 1998 Jan. 1999 Dec. 1999 Jan. 15, 2000
ILLINOIS 1992-96=100 1993-97=100 1994-98=100
All Farm Products 79 82 76* 77
All Crops 85 83 71* 72
Food grains 61 56 60* 60
Feed grains/hay 84 82 73* 74
Soybeans 88 85 69* 71
All Livestock 65 82 90* 90
Meat animals 52 71 90* 91
Dairy products 132 138 86* 89
UNITED STATES

1990-92=100

Prices Received 98 97 92* 90
All Crops 100 97 90* 89
Food grains 101 102 85* 86
Feed grains/hay 89 91 81* 84
Oilseeds 102 96 82* 82
All Livestock 97 96 95* 93
Meat animals 66 75 88* 89
Dairy products 139 133 93* 91
Prices Paid 114 115 118* 118
Parity Ratio 1/ 86 84 78* 76
1/ Prices received index divided by prices paid index.
* Revised.


PRICES RECEIVED BY FARMERS 1/



Commodity

Unit		 Illinois United States
Dec.
1998		 Jan.
1999		 Dec.
1999		 Jan. 15,
2000		 Dec.
1998		 Jan.
1999		 Dec.
1999		 Jan. 15,
2000
Corn Bushels 2.13 2.12 1.95* 2.00 2.00 2.06 1.82* 1.90
Soybeans Bushels 5.57 5.46 4.58* 4.70 5.37 5.32 4.44* 4.59
Sorghum Cwt. 3.49 3.62 3.14* 3.35 2.94 3.05 2.65* 2.93
Wheat, all Bushels 2.31 2.16 2.22* 2.25 2.86 2.84 2.52* 2.52
Oats Bushels 1.55 1.63 1.30* 1.35 1.19 1.20 1.17* 1.18
Hay, all baled Tons 87.00 86.00 82.00 81.00 77.50 78.50 71.10* 71.80
Alfalfa hay, bld Tons 91.00 91.00 87.00 85.00 79.70 81.40 73.20* 74.10
Other hay, bld Tons 69.00 68.00 64.00 63.00 71.10 70.60 65.90* 65.90
Hogs, all Cwt. 12.40 25.10 33.70* 34.50 14.70 26.30 35.60* 36.30
Barrows, Gilts Cwt. 12.60 25.70 34.30* 34.90 14.80 26.70 36.00* 36.50
Sows Cwt. 9.70 18.40 26.30* 29.30 12.10 18.00 26.70* 32.20
Beef cattle Cwt. 57.40 59.60 67.50* 66.30 56.80 59.00 66.60* 66.60
Cows Cwt. 28.70 28.70 33.80* 33.40 30.80 33.40 35.10* 35.20
Steers, Heifers Cwt. 58.00 60.20 68.20* 67.00 60.30 62.20 70.80* 70.70
Calves Cwt. 95.00 100.00 112.00 114.00 80.20 83.20 98.60* 102.00
Milk cows Head 2/ 1,290.00 2/ 1,300.00 2/ 1,250.00 2/ 1,330.00
Milk, all Cwt. 18.10 17.90 11.80* 11.90 18.00 17.40 12.20* 11.90
Milk, fluid Cwt. 18.10 17.90 11.80 3/ 18.10 17.50 12.20* 12.00
Milk, mfg. Cwt. 18.30 17.30 11.20 3/ 17.40 15.30 10.70* 10.70
Hog-corn ratio   5.8 11.8 17.3* 17.3 7.4 12.8 19.6* 19.1
1/ Prices received represents the average of all grades or classes at point of
first sale and should not be confused with market quotations.
2/ Estimated in January, April, July and October.
3/ State prices not published.
* Revised.


SHEEP & LAMBS


The total number of sheep and lambs in Illinois on January 1, 2000 was estimated at 74,000 head, unchanged from January 1, 1999. Breeding sheep, at 63,000 head, decreased 1,000 head from a year earlier. The number of market sheep and lambs totaled 11,000 head. A breakdown of market lambs showed 3,500 head were under 65 pounds, 2,000 head were 65-84 pounds, 3,000 head were 85-105 pounds and 3,000 head were over 105 pounds.

The 1999 lamb crop in Illinois was 69,000 head, a decrease of 4,000 head from the 1998 crop. Breeding ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2000 decreased 2,000 head from last year to 50,000.

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 2000, totaled 7.03 million head, down three percent from 1999 and ten percent below two years ago. Inventory has declined since 1942 when it reached a peak of 56.2 million head. Breeding sheep inventory declined to 5.16 million head on January 1, 2000, down three percent from 5.30 million head on January 1, 1999. Ewes one year old and older, at 4.23 million head, were two percent below last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2000, totaled 1.86 million head, down three percent from January 1, 1999. Market lambs comprised 96 percent of the total. Twenty-four percent were lambs under 65 pounds, 17 percent were 65 - 84 pounds, 26 percent 85 - 105 pounds, 29 percent were over 105 pounds and four percent were market sheep.

The 1999 lamb crop of 4.72 million head was down six percent from 1998 to a new record low. The 1999 lambing rate was 109 per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 1999, compared with 110 in 1998.

SHEEP & LAMBS: INVENTORY, ILLINOIS & U.S.

Item		 Illinois U.S.
Jan. 1,
1999		 Jan. 1,
2000		 Jan. 1,
1999		 Jan. 1,
2000
 

1,000 head

Sheep & Lambs 74.0 74.0 7,215.0 7,026.0
 
Ewes-1 year + 52.0 50.0 4,322.0 4,228.0
Rams/Wethers-1 year + 4.0 4.0 203.3 205.5
Replacement Lambs 8.0 9.0 773.7 729.5
Total Breeding Sheep and Lambs 64.0 63.0 5,299.0 5,163.0
 
Lambs
Under 65 lbs. 3.0 3.5 490.4 450.6
65 - 84 lbs. 1.5 2.0 328.1 313.0
85 - 105 lbs. 3.0 2.0 513.0 477.0
Over 105 lbs. 1.5 3.0 502.0 542.4
Sheep 1.0 0.5 82.5 80.0
Total Market Sheep and Lambs 10.0 11.0 1,910 1,863.0
 
  1998 1999 1998 1999
Lamb Crop 1/ 73.0 69.0 5,007.0 4,719.0
Number of Operations with Sheep 2,600 2,400 68,550 66,800
1/ Includes sheep and lambs on feed for slaughter market but excludes new
crop lambs (those born after September 30 of previous year).

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World Wide Web

The Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service has a home page at:
http://www.agr.state.il.us/agstats.htm

The NASS headquarters office home page can be found at:
http://www.usda.gov/nass/

There you can find reports issued by NASS as well as links to state statistical offices. You will also find many charts showing long term trends in agriculture.


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