ILLINOIS
FARM REPORT

NOVEMBER CROP REPORT

As of November 1, the Illinois corn for grain yield for 2000 is estimated at 153 bushels per acre. This is down two bushels from the October 1 forecast and three bushels below the record yield of 1994. At this level, total production would reach 1.69 billion bushels, 13 percent more than what was produced in 1999 but five percent less than the record production of 1994. Harvest of the crop had reached 94 percent complete by October 29 which compared to 91 percent in 1999 and 80 percent for the five-year average. Progress during the month was fairly steady with only a few brief periods when rain slowed harvest. Harvest did experience more delays in southern Illinois where soils remained saturated.

The estimated yield for the Illinois soybean crop is 44 bushels per acre, down two bushels from the October 1 forecast but two bushels above last year. Production is expected to total 451 million bushels, two percent above last year but three percent less than the record production of 1998. Temperatures across the state were just below normal for the first half of October with most of the state receiving rain the first week, slowing down soybean harvest. However, unseasonably warm temperatures the rest of October helped many fields dry out enough for producers to continue harvesting at a normal pace. By October 29, only five percent of the soybean crop remained in the fields and most of those acres were in the south where double crop soybeans are more common.

U.S. corn for grain production is forecast at 10.1 billion bushels, down one percent from last month, but up seven percent from 1999. Based on November 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 137.7 bushels per acre, down 1.9 bushels from last month, but up 3.9 bushels from a year ago. If realized, this would be the largest production and second highest yield on record. Overall yield declines in the Corn Belt more than offset increases in the mid-Atlantic States and Missouri. Yield declines in the Corn Belt were mainly due to lower ear weights. The November 1 Corn Objective Yield data indicate record level ear counts for the combined seven objective yield States (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin). The previous record for ears per acre was set in 1999. In Iowa, ear counts are the highest on record. Ear counts are also at a record high for Illinois and Indiana when compared to final levels.

Soybean production is forecast at record high 2.78 billion bushels, down two percent from October 1, but five percent above 1999. The yield forecast, at 38.0 bushels per acre, decreased 0.7 bushel from last month, but is 1.4 bushels above the 1999 final yield. Yield decreases in the western Corn Belt and Great Plains regions more than offset yield increases in the mid-Atlantic States and Ohio. Reduced yields in the Corn Belt were a result of lower pod counts. If realized, pod counts from the November 1 Objective Yield survey will be the highest on record in Illinois and Indiana. Counts in Arkansas, Missouri and Ohio are expected to be above 1999 final counts, but not at record levels. Counts in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska are expected to be lower than the 1999 season.