ILLINOIS
FARM REPORT


RELEASED: July 3, 2000 IFR-00-09
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. 9


ACREAGE

Corn planted in Illinois in 2000 is estimated at 11.2 million acres, up 100 thousand from the March estimate and up 400 thousand from 1999. Acreage planted to genetically modified varieties are estimated to have accounted for 17 percent of the total acreage. The 17 percent breaks down to 13 percent Bt varieties, three percent herbicide resistant varieties and one percent stacked gene varieties. Planting began in early April and dry weather allowed progress to finish ahead of normal at the end of May. The average height of corn on June 26 was 46 inches, compared to 37 inches last year. This is the tallest the corn has been on this date since the crop of 1991. The crop was rated 32 percent excellent, 53 percent good, 11 percent fair, three percent poor and one percent very poor on June 23.

Acreage planted and to be planted to soybeans in Illinois in 2000 is estimated at 10.3 million acres, two percent below the acreage expected to be planted in March. This is the second highest acreage ever planted to soybeans in Illinois, three percent less than the record 10.6 million acres planted in 1998 and 1999. Of the total acreage planted, an estimated 44 percent was genetically modified herbicide resistant varieties. Planting progressed well ahead of the five-year average throughout the planting season due to unseasonably dry conditions. By May 21, farmers were nearly two weeks ahead of last year and four weeks earlier than the average progress over the last five years. By the end of the next week, soybean planting was nearly complete. The crop was rated 24 percent excellent, 52 percent good, 19 percent fair, four percent poor and one percent very poor on June 23.

An estimated 950 thousand acres of winter wheat were seeded in Illinois last fall, ten percent less than the previous year. Farmers expect to harvest 910 thousand acres, ten percent less than during 1999. With the mild winter and early spring, the crop developed very quickly this year, but frequent rains during mid to late June slowed the harvest progress. As of June 26, 35 percent of the crop had been harvested, compared to 36 percent last year and 22 percent for the five-year average.

ACREAGE SUMMARY, 1999-2000



Crop
Illinois United States
Planted acres Acres for harvest Planted acres Acres for harvest
1999 2000 1999 2000 1999 2000 1999 2000
 

Thousands

Corn 10,800 11,200 10,650 11,050 77,431 79,579 70,537 73,088
Soybeans 10,600 10,300 10,550 10,250 73,780 74,501 72,476 73,474
Winter Wheat 1,050 950 1,010 910 43,431 43,349 35,572 35,401
Oats 75 75 60 60 4,670 4,472 2,453 2,472
Sorghum 100 90 97 85 9,288 8,805 8,544 8,110
Summer Potatoes 4.9 5.5 4.7 5.3 68.8 64.8 63.9 62.7
Alfalfa Hay - - 500 530 - - 23,985 23,767
All Other Hay - - 350 350 - - 39,175 38,414

CORN & SOYBEANS BY DISTRICTS, 1999-2000



District
Corn Soybeans
Planted acres Acres for grain Planted acres Acres for beans
1999 2000 1999 2000 1999 2000 1999 2000
 

Thousands

Northwest 1,720 1,700 1,679 1,663 1,150 1,160 1,144 1,155
Northeast 1,060 1,150 1.043 1,123 940 880 935 875
West 1,040 1,130 1,028 1,114 980 940 975 936
Central 1,500 1,520 1,491 1,509 1,400 1,380 1,394 1,375
East 1,530 1,560 1,522 1,547 1,490 1,440 1,484 1,434
West Southwest 1,440 1,510 1,424 1,499 1,420 1,430 1,413 1,423
East Southeast 1,450 1,490 1,429 1,478 1,650 1,580 1,643 1,571
Southwest 490 530 470 513 820 770 816 765
Southeast 570 610 564 604 750 720 746 716
ILLINOIS 10,800 11,200 10,650 11,050 10,600 10,300 10,550 10,250

U.S. corn planted for all purposes is estimated at 79.6 million acres, up three percent from last year. Growers expect to harvest 73.1 million acres for grain, up four percent from 1999. Farmers responding to the survey indicated that 99 percent of the intended corn acreage had been planted at the time of the interview compared to an average of 96 percent for the past ten years. Acreage planted to genetically modified varieties are estimated at 25 percent of the total acreage. Bt varieties accounted for 18 percent, herbicide resistant varieties for six percent and stacked gene varieties for one percent of the acreage.

In late April and May, corn planting rapidly advanced as an extended period of dry weather dominated the Corn Belt. Growers in Iowa and Minnesota planted over half of their corn acreage in one week. Mid-May precipitation eased moisture shortages in the northern Corn Belt and aided germination. Planting progressed at a record pace and by the end of May, virtually all of the crop was planted. Progress was one to two weeks ahead of average throughout the spring.

The soybean planted area is estimated at 74.5 million acres, one percent above last year's acreage. Area for harvest is estimated at 73.5 million acres, up one percent from 1999. If realized, this will be the largest planted and harvested acreage on record. Planted acreage has consistently increased every year since 1990 when the soybean planted area totaled 57.8 million acres. Of the 31 soybean estimating states, growers in 16 states increased acreage, while growers in 14 states reduced area planted. Genetically modified herbicide resistant varieties are estimated to account for 54 percent of the total acreage planted.

Winter wheat area harvested for grain is now expected to total 35.4 million acres, up two percent from the June 1 forecast, but down less than one percent from the 1999 acreage for grain. This is the smallest area for grain since 1972. Planted area is slightly above the previous estimate, but still down fractionally from 1999.

Most of the harvested area increase is due to a two percent gain in Hard Red Winter grain acres. Acreage increases in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas more than offset a decline in Montana where dry weather has increased abandonment. Soft Red Winter area also increased, driven by increases in Missouri and Ohio.

WINTER WHEAT BY DISTRICTS, 1999-2000

District
Planted acres Acres for grain
1999 2000 1999 2000
 

Thousands

Northwest 20 21 18 20
Northeast 33 36 32 35
West 52 48 50 44
Central 29 36 28 35
East 29 49 28 47
W. Southwest 179 165 174 160
E. Southeast 205 200 198 194
Southwest 349 280 334 265
Southeast 154 115 148 110
ILLINOIS 1,050 950 1,010 910

JUNE 1 GRAIN STOCKS

Stocks of corn in Illinois on June 1, 2000 are estimated at 624.3 million bushels. This is the largest June 1 level since 1993 when corn stocks totaled 648.8 million bushels. On-farm stocks were 245 million bushels, down nine percent from June 1, 1999. Off-farm stocks, at 379.3 million bushels, were up 25 percent from a year earlier and accounted for 61 percent of the total stocks. The March-May indicated disappearance is 354.2 million bushels, compared to the disappearance of 364.8 million bushels last year.

Soybean stocks
are estimated at 144.5 million bushels on June 1, 2000, three percent below a year earlier. On-farm stocks totaled 68 million bushels,three percent below the level on June 1, 1999. Off-farm stocks totaled 74.5 million bushels, six percent less than the previous year. The March-May indicated disappearance for stocks in all positions is 107.2 million bushels, 17 percent below the disappearance of 128.7 million bushels a year ago.

Wheat stocks
on June 1, 2000 are estimated at 24.1 million bushels, 13 percent above a year ago and at the highest level since 1977 when stocks were 25.4 million bushels. On-farm stocks, at 600 thousand bushels, accounted for two percent of the total stocks. Off-farm stocks were 23.5 million bushels, up 18 percent from a year earlier and easily the highest level this decade.

U.S. corn stocks in all positions on June 1, 2000 totaled 3.59 billion bushels, down one percent from June 1, 1999. Of the total stocks, 2.03 billion bushels were stored on farms, down 10 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 1.56 billion bushels, were up 15 percent from a year ago. The March - May 2000 quarter indicated disappearance is 2.02 billion bushels, three percent below the disappearance of 2.08 billion bushels during the same period a year earlier.

Soybeans stored in all positions
on June 1, 2000 totaled 775 million bushels, down nine percent from June 1, 1999. On-farm stocks, at 370 million bushels, were down 19 percent from the same period a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 405 million bushels, were four percent higher than June 1, 1999. Indicated disappearance for the March-May 2000 quarter totaled 621 million bushels, up two percent from the same quarter in 1999.

All wheat stored in all positions
on June 1, 2000 totaled 950 million bushels, up slightly from a year ago. This is the largest June 1 stocks level since the 1987-88 market year. On-farm stocks are estimated at 227 million
bushels, down 18 percent from last year. Off-farm stocks, at 723 million bushels, are up eight percent from a year ago. The indicated March - May 2000 quarter disappearance is 465 million bushels, down eight percent from the same period in 1999.

GRAIN AND HAY STOCKS - JUNE 1, 1999-2000

Crop and Position 1/

Illinois United States
1999 2000 1999 2000
 

Thousand bushels

Corn
On farms 270,000 245,000 2,257,000 2,029,800
Off farms 304,178 379,300 1,359,225 1,557,112
Total 574,178 624,300 3,616,225 3,586,912
Soybeans
On farms 70,000 68,000 458,000 370,000
Off farms 79,387 74,498 390,573 404,996
Total 149,387 142,498 848,573 774,996
All Wheat
On farms 1,500 600 277,710 226,780
Off farms 19,853 23,486 668,208 723,293
Total 21,353 24,086 945,918 950,073
Oats
On farms 2/ 2/ 40,700 36,000
Off farms 527 406 40,678 40,027
Total 2/ 2/ 81,378 76,027
Sorghum
On farms 2/ 2/ 27,400 27,300
Off farms 874 729 88,680 99,682
Total 2/ 2/ 116,080 126,982
1/ Off farm stocks include stocks at mills, elevators, warehouses, terminals and processors.
2/ Data not published.

HOGS AND PIGS

The number of hogs and pigs on Illinois farms on June 1, 2000 was 4.15 million head, five percent less than a year earlier and 17 percent less than June 1998. This was 100 thousand more than were on hand on March 1, 2000. Breeding hogs, at 430 thousand head, were down seven percent from a year earlier but were unchanged from last quarter. Market hogs, at 3.72 million head, were down four percent from June 1999 but up three percent from March 2000.

The Illinois March-May pig crop, at 1.84 million, was up one percent from a year earlier. There were 210 thousand sows that farrowed, unchanged from the same time last year. Pigs per litter, at a record 8.75, was up from the average 8.7 pigs saved per litter last quarter.

Illinois hog producers intend to farrow 410 thousand sows between June 1 and November 30, 2000. This would be three percent above the actual farrowings during this period a year ago. Producers expect to farrow 205 thousand sows during the June-August quarter, up three percent from a year earlier. The first intentions estimate for farrowings during the September-November quarter is also 205 thousand sows, three percent more than farrowed during that period in 1999.

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2000, was 59.4 million head. This was two percent below June 1999, but two percent above March 1, 2000. Breeding inventory, at 6.23 million head, was down four percent from June 1, 1999, but up slightly from March 1, 2000. Market hog inventory, at 53.2 million head, was two percent below last year, but two percent above last quarter.

The March-May 2000 U.S. pig crop, at 25.8 million head, was two percent less than 1999 and four percent less than 1998. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.91 million head, three percent below last year. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 47 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs per litter rose to 8.89 pigs saved per litter for the March-May period, compared to 8.80 pigs last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.80 for operations with 1-99 hogs to 9.00 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.85 million sows farrow during the June-August 2000 quarter, two percent below the actual farrowings during the same period in 1999 and seven percent below 1998. Intended farrowings for September-November 2000, at 2.86 million sows, are one percent above the same period last year, but four percent below 1998.

The total number of hogs under contract, owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 32 percent of the total U.S. hog inventory, up from 30 percent last year.

HOGS & PIGS: INVENTORY NUMBERS, JUNE 1, 1999-2000

      Illinois Iowa United States



1999


2000
2000 as %

of 1999



1999


2000
2000 as %

of 1999



1999


2000
2000 as %

of 1999

   1,000 head Percent 1,000 head Percent 1,000 head Percent
Breeding 460 430 93 1,200 1,160 97 6,515 6,234 96
     
Market 3,890 3,720 96 14,300 14,340 100 54,380 53,164 98
Under 60 lbs. 1,460 1,360 93 4,550 4,570 100 20,532 20,188 98
60-119 lbs. 950 920 97 3,950 4,070 103 13,501 13,247 98
120-179 lbs. 840 820 98 3,050 3,080 101 11,076 10,700 97
180 lbs. & over 640 620 97 2,750 2,620 95 9,272 9,029 97
    
Total 4,350 4,150 95 15,500 15,500 100 60,896 59,397 98

HOGS & PIGS: FARROWINGS & PIG CROP, 1999-2000

      Illinois Iowa United States



1999


2000
2000 as %

of 1999



1999


2000
2000 as %

of 1999



1999


2000
2000 as %

of 1999

      1,000 head Percent 1,000 head Percent 1,000 head Percent
Sows Farrowing
Dec.-Feb. 1/ 210 205      98 480 460      96 2,891 2,819      98
Mar.-May 210 210      100 520 500      96 2,986 2,905      97
Jun.-Aug. 200 205 2/ 103 490 485 2/ 99 2,920 2,854 2/ 98
Sep.-Nov. 200 205 2/ 103 490 485 2/ 99 2,844 2,861 2/ 101
   
Pig Crop
Dec.-Feb. 1/ 1,827 1,784      98 4,176 4,071      97 25,247 24,777     98
Mar.-May 1,817 1,838      101 4,524 4,450      98 26,270 25,831     98
    
Pigs Per Litter
Dec.-Feb. 1/ 8.70 8.70     - 8.70 8.85      - 8.73 8.79     -
Mar.-May 8.65 8.75     - 8.70 8.90      - 8.80 8.89     -
1/ December of prior year.
2/ Intentions.

MILK PRODUCTION

Milk production in Illinois totaled 186 million pounds in May 2000, up two percent from May of last year. The number of milk cows on farms averaged 120,000 head, down two percent from May last year. Milk per cow averaged 1,550 pounds, up 60 pounds from a year ago.

Milk production for the 20 States totaled 12.8 billion pounds, up three percent from the 20 States production total in May 1999. Production per cow in the 20 States was 1,638 pounds, up 28 pounds per cow from May 1999. The number of milk cows on farms was 7.8 million head in May, up nearly one percent from a year ago.

MILK PRODUCTION: ILLINOIS & 20 STATES, MAY 1999-2000

  May
Illinois United States



1999


2000
2000 as %

of 1999



1999


2000
2000 as %

of 1999

Milk Production:    
Number of milk cows Head (000) 123 120 98 7,733 7,796 101
Milk production per cow Lbs. 1,490 1,550 104 1,610 1,638 102
Total milk production Mil. lbs. 183 186 102 12,447 12,771 103


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