ILLINOIS
FARM REPORT

HOGS AND PIGS

The number of hogs and pigs in Illinois on December 1, 2000 was 4.2 million, four percent more than were on hand on December 1, 1999 but 13 percent below December 1, 1998. This was up two percent from the number on hand on September 1, 2000. Breeding hogs on hand December 1, 2000 were estimated at 450 thousand head, up seven percent from a year earlier. Market hogs, at 3.75 million head, were up three percent from a year earlier.

The pig crop during September, October and November of 2000 was 1.827 million, up six percent from the same period in 1999 but down 10 percent from the same period in 1998. There were 210 thousand sows that farrowed, 10 thousand more than a year earlier. The litter rate for the quarter averaged 8.7 pigs saved per litter, equal to the level attained last quarter.

Farrowing intentions for the December 1, 2000 through February 1, 2001 quarter is 220 thousand, 15 thousand sows greater than actual farrowings during the same period a year earlier. The first estimate of intentions for the March through May quarter of 2001 is for 220 thousand sows to farrow, 10 thousand more than in the same quarter in 2000.

The number of hog operations with hogs totaled 5,100 during 2000, down 22 percent from last year and 27 percent below 1998.

U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2000, was 59.8 million head. This was one percent above December 1999, but slightly below September 1, 2000. Breeding inventory, at 6.28 million head, was up one percent from December 1,1999, and up slightly from September 1, 2000. Market hog inventory, at 53.6million head, was one percent above last year, but slightly below last quarter.

The September-November 2000 U.S. pig crop, at 25.5 million head, was two percent more than 1999, but one percent less than 1998. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.88 million head, one percent above last year. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 46 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs per litter was 8.88 pigs saved per litter for the September-November period, compared to 8.78 pigs last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.60 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 2.91 million sows farrow during the December 2000-February 2001 quarter, four percent above the actual farrowings during the same period in 2000, and one percent above 1999. Intended farrowings for March-May 2001, at 2.92 million sows, are one percent above the same period in 2000 but down two percent from 1999.

The number of hog operations with hogs totaled 85,760 during 2000, down 13 percent from last year and 25 percent below 1998. Places with 2,000 or more hogs on hand accounted for 8 percent of the operations and 72 percent of the inventory. This is the fifth time operations with inventories over 2,000 head have controlled over 50 percent of the total inventory. The number of operations with over 5,000 head of inventory at, 2,095, accounted for 50.5 percent of the total inventory, up from 46.5 percent a year ago. The total number of hogs under contract, owned by these over 5,000 head operations, but raised by contractees, accounted for 30 percent of the total U.S. hog inventory, down from 32 percent last year.

WINTER WHEAT - FALL SEEDINGS

In Illinois, an estimated 850 thousand acres of winter wheat were seeded in the fall of 2000, 11 percent less than in 1999. This ties the smallest acreage seeded since 850 thousand acres were seeded in the fall of 1984. The condition of the crop as of December 29, 2000 was 13 percent excellent, 63 percent good, 22 percent fair and two percent poor.

U.S. winter wheat planted for harvest in 2001 is estimated at 41.3 million acres. This is down five percent from 2000 and is the lowest level since 1971. Seeding started last August in the Pacific Northwest, some Mountain States, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Texas. Progress was slow across most of the U.S. due primarily to dry soil conditions. Seeding should finish sometime during February in California. About 98 percent of the U.S. acreage was seeded by December 1. Most remaining intended area is in the Southeast, California, Oklahoma and Texas.

MONTHLY HOG REPORTS

Now available on the Internet at http://www.usda.gov/nass/ are new U.S. monthly estimates of sow and gilt inventory, and the number of sows and gilts bred. These data, along with monthly farrowing and pig crop estimates, will be available on the Internet with the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs release and, beginning January 26, 2001, in the new Monthly Hogs and Pigs release. For those without Internet access, just call 800/622-9865 and request a copy be mailed or faxed.

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