ILLINOIS FARM REPORT RELEASED: FEBRUARY 2, 1999 IFR-99-03

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. 03

CATTLE & CALVES

Illinois' cattle and calves inventory on January 1, 1999 was 1,490,000 head, down one percent from January 1, 1998. Beef cow numbers increased 5,000 head to 445,000 and milk cows decreased by 5,000 to 125,000 head. Beef replacement heifers decreased 5,000 head from a year earlier to 55,000 and milk replacement heifers were also down 5,000 head to 60,000. Total inventory for other heifers was 210,000 head, unchanged from January 1, 1998. Steers were up two percent to 305,000 head, while bulls remained unchanged at 30,000 head. Cattle and calves on feed were down four percent to 240,000 head. A total of 520,000 calves were born on Illinois farms in 1998, with 260,000 head under 500 pounds still on hand January 1, 1999.

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 1999, totaled 98.5 million head, one percent below the 99.7 million on January 1, 1998. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.6 million, were one percent below January 1, 1998. Beef cows, at 33.5 million, were down one percent from January 1, 1998. Milk cows, at 9.14 million, were also down one percent. All heifers 500 pounds and over, at 19.6 million, were down one percent from 1998. Beef replacement heifers, at 5.55 million, were down four percent from a year earlier. Milk replacement heifers, at 4.06 million, were up two percent from last year. Total inventory for other heifers was 9.99 million head, down one percent from 1998. Steers weighing 500 pounds and over, at 16.8 million, were down two percent from 1998. Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, at 2.28 million, were up slightly from a year earlier. Total cattle and calves on feed were down three percent from 1998 to 13.2 million head. Calves under 500 pounds, at 17.2 million, were down one percent from 1998. The 1998 calf crop was estimated at 38.6 million, down one percent from the 1997 calf crop.

MILK PRODUCTION

Milk production in Illinois totaled 193 million pounds in December 1998, up two percent from December 1997. The number of milk cows on farms averaged 139,000 head, compared to 145,000 head the same time a year earlier. December milk production in the 20 States totaled 11.4 billion pounds, three percent aboveproduction in these same states in December 1997. Production per cow averaged 1,478 pounds in the 20 States, up 40 pounds from a year earlier. There were 7.74 million head of milk cows on farms in the 20 States in December 1998, 12,000 head above the previous year.

CHICKENS

Illinois chicken inventory during December 1998 was 3.48 million, down 14 percent from a year earlier. Layers one year old and older were up 23 percent while layers 20 weeks old but less than one year decreased 46 percent. Pullets 13 weeks old but less than 20 weeks increased 13 percent. Pullets under 13 weeks old decreased from 380,000 to 329,000 and other chickens decreased from 39,000 to 29,000.

The U.S. chicken inventory during December 1998 was 424.1 million, up three percent from a year earlier. Layers one year old and older increased seven percent while layers 20 weeks old but less than one year decreased one percent. Pullets 13 weeks old but less than 20 weeks increased 11 percent to 39.7 million. Pullets under 13 weeks increased two percent and other chickens increased two percent.

TURKEYS

Turkeys raised in Illinois during 1998 totaled 3.2 million, nine percent below 1997. In the United States, a total of 283.5 millionturkeys were raised, down six percent from 1997. North Carolina ranked first with 50 million and Minnesota was second with 44.5 million.

AGRICULTURAL PRICES

January prices received by Illinois farmers for all commodities increased two points from the revised December figure but is still down 23 points from January 1998, at 81 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 82 percent of the base, decreased three points from last month and is 26 points lower than January 1998. The price of sorghum, wheat and oats increased, while the price of corn and soybeans decreased. The all livestock index jumped 14 points from last month and is at 79 percent of the base. This is due to the noticeable increase in hog prices for the month. The hog-corn ratio, at 11.0, increased 5.2 points from last month.

The U.S. All Farm Products Index of Prices Received in January was 98 based on 1990-92=100, down one point from December. Price increases from December for hogs, tomatoes, cattle and oranges more than offset price decreases for turkeys, milk, lettuce and broilers. The seasonal changes in the mix of commodities farmers sell also affect the overall index level. Lower seasonal marketings of cotton, milk, tobacco and cottonseed more than offset the relatively higher marketings of corn, soybeans, cattle and rice. These seasonal marketing changes more than offset an increase in prices and accounted for the one point decline in the overall index. Compared with January 1998, the All Farm Products Index was five points lower. Price decreases from January 1998 for corn, soybeans, hogs and cattle more than offset price increases for milk, broilers, oranges and tomatoes.

SHEEP

The total number of sheep and lambs in Illinois on January 1, 1999 was estimated at 74,000 head. This represents a six percent decrease from January 1, 1998. Breeding sheep, at 64,000 head, decreased 4,000 head from last year. The number of market sheep and lambs totaled 10,000 head. A breakdown of market lambs showed 3,000 head were under 65 pounds, 1,500 head were 65-84 pounds, 3,000 head were 85-105 pounds and 1,500 head were over 105 pounds.

The 1998 lamb crop in Illinois was 73,000 head, a decrease of 8,000 head from the 1997 crop. Breeding ewes one year old and older on January 1, 1999 decreased 4,000 head from last year to 52,000.

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 1999, totaled 7.24 million head, down eight percent from 1998. Inventory has declined since 1942 when it reached a peak of 56.2 million head. Breeding sheep inventory declined to 5.31 million head on January 1, 1999, down five percent from 5.61 million head on January 1, 1998. Ewes one year old and older, at 4.34 million head, were five percent below last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 1999, totaled 1.92 million head, down 13 percent from January 1, 1998. Market lambs comprised 96 percent of the total. Twenty-six percent were lambs under 65 pounds, 17 percent were 65 - 84 pounds, 27 percent 85 - 105 pounds, 26 percent were over 105 pounds and four percent were market sheep.

The 1998 lamb crop of 5.01 million head was down six percent from 1997. This compares with the previous record low of 5.36 million head set a year ago. The 1998 lambing rate was 110 per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 1998, compared with 109 in 1997.

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