ILLINOIS FARM REPORT RELEASED: JANUARY 22, 1999 IFR-20-02

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. 20, NO. 02

ILLINOIS ANNUAL CROP SUMMARY 1998

The crop season began with above normal temperatures and precipitation. Wet conditions persisted during the planting season hindering progress. The excessive rain forced many farmers to replant acreage that had flooded. By June 7, 13 percent of the corn crop had been replanted. Affects of the wet spring were easily apparent in the wheat crop. While the crop progressed well ahead of normal, many fields contended with scab damage. Continued rains during July and August combined with warm weather accelerated the maturity of the crops. Harvest got off to a quick start in late September and early October, then progressed near average with most of the crops harvested by mid-November.

CORN PRODUCTION UP THREE PERCENT

Production of corn for grain during 1998 totaled 1.47 billion bushels, three percent more than produced in 1997. The yield averaged 141 bushels per acre, 12 bushels above the 1997 yield but 15 bushels below the record yield of 1994. There were 10.45 million acres harvested for grain out of 10.6 million total acres of corn planted. This is 600 thousand acres below the 1997 harvested acres. Heavy rainfall across the state occurred throughout the planting season, with delayed planting and widespread replanting being quite common. Planting picked up steam during the last half of May and was virtually complete ahead of the five-year average in early June. Below normal temperatures during July helped offset the below normal precipitation during the month and also aided pollination. August saw a return to above normal temperatures which would continue through theremainder of the year and helped push the crop to maturity ahead of the average. October weather was wetter than normal but strong storms were uncommon so little damage was done to the standing crop and most of the crop was harvested by mid-November.

RECORD SOYBEAN PRODUCTION

The final yield for the 1998 soybean crop was 44 bushels per acre, one bushel above the 1997 yield and the second highest on record, one and one-half bushels below the record yield of 1994. Production totaled 468.6 million bushels, ten percent above the 1997 production and the largest on record, nine percent more than the previous record production of 429.1 million bushels in 1994. Planted and harvested acreage, at 10.7 million and 10.65 million respectively, were both records, 700 thousand above the previous record level of 1997. Planting of the 1998 crop got off to a slow start at the beginning of May, but surpassed the five-year average of 55 percent by 11 points by the end of May and was mostly finished by mid-June. Warm, sunny weather advanced crop development and above average precipitation during the first week of August benefitted the continued development of pods and resulted in a record number of pods for the 1998 crop. Near to below normal precipitation coupled with near to above normal temperatures during September helped to push the pods to maturity. Despite above normal precipitation received statewide during October, soybean harvest advanced to 92 percent by November 1 from 37 percent reported October 4.

WHEAT PRODUCTION DOWN 13 PERCENT

The final estimate for the 1998 winter wheat crop had a yield of 48 bushels per acre, 13 bushels below the record yield of 61 in 1997. Acreage seeded in the fall of 1997 was 1.25 million, nine percent above the 1.15 million acres seeded in 1996. Farmers harvested 1.2 million acres for grain in 1998 resulting in total production of 57.6 million bushels. This was 13 percent less than the 1997 production of 66.5 million bushels. The development of the crop was rapid with mild temperatures and excess moisture in the spring. By July 5, 88 percent of the crop had been harvested, the highest percent harvested for that date since 1991 when 95 percent of the crop had been harvested.

SORGHUM PRODUCTION DOWN 24 PERCENT

The final 1998 yield of sorghum for grain was 74 bushels per acre, 17 bushels below the 1997 yield of 91 and the second lowest yield in the last ten years with only 1995 lower at 69 bushels per acre. Production totaled 7.92 million bushels, 24 percent less than in 1997. Total planted and harvested for grain acreage, at 110 and 107 thousand respectively, were revised down from the June estimates of 150 and 145 thousand. Planted acreage was eight percent below the revised 1997 acreage of 120 thousand.

OAT PRODUCTION DOWN 29 PERCENT

The final oats estimate for 1998 placed the production at 3.92 million bushels, 29 percent below the 1997 production. Acreage harvested for grain, at 70 thousand, was seven percent below 1997. The final yield, at 56 bushels per acre, was 18 bushels below the previous year.

RYE PRODUCTION UP 39 PERCENT

Illinois farmers seeded 50,000 acres of rye for 1998, down from the 55,000 acres seeded in 1997. Most of the rye grown in Illinois is for a cover crop or for pasture. Farmers harvested 9,000 acres for grain in 1998, compared to 8,000 in 1997. The rye yield in Illinois averaged 37 bushels per acre, seven bushels above the previous year. Production, at 333,000 bushels, was up 39 percent from 1997.

HAY PRODUCTION UP SEVEN PERCENT

Production of all hay in 1998 was 3.4 million tons, seven percent more than was produced in 1997. Alfalfa hay production was up 11 percent to 2.52 million tons but all other hay was down two percent to 875 thousand tons. Yields were up for both; alfalfa from 3.9 to 4.2 tons per acre and all other from 2.3 to 2.5 tons per acre. Alfalfa acreage cut for hay was 600 thousand in 1998, up from 580 in 1997. Acreage of all other hay cut was 350 thousand, down from 390 in 1997.

POTATO PRODUCTION DOWN

Illinois potato producers harvested 4,900 acres in 1998, up 300 acres from 1997. Production, at 1.4 million cwt., was five percent below the production of 1.5 million cwt. in 1997. The 1998 potato yield of 290 cwt. per acre was down from the record 325 cwt. in 1997.

SWEET CORN FOR PROCESSING

Vegetable release delayed until January 28, 1999.

FRESH MARKET SWEET CORN

Vegetable release delayed until January 28, 1999.

SNAP BEANS FOR PROCESSING

Vegetable release delayed until January 28, 1999.

CABBAGE FOR FRESH MARKET

Vegetable release delayed until January 28, 1999.

APPLE PRODUCTION DOWN 39 PERCENT

Illinois apple growers produced 35 million pounds during 1998. This was 48 percent below the crop of 1997 due to spring damage.

PEACH PRODUCTION INCREASES

Illinois peach production during 1998 totaled 13.5 million pounds. Production was 35 percent above the 1997 level of 10.0 million pounds.

1/ Vegetable release delayed until January 28, 1999.

2/ Utilized Production.

INTERNET E-MAIL

All of the reports issued by the Washington D.C. headquarters office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) are available at no charge via an e-mail subscription. Send an e-mail message to:

Be sure to include the word "list" in the body of the message. You will receive a reply containing further instructions for subscribing and a list of the available reports.

THE WORLD WIDE WEB
The Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service has a home page at:

The NASS headquarters office home page can be found at:

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.

Farm Report Schedule

NASS-IL Homepage

NASS-HQ Homepage

USDA Homepage

IDOA Homepage