ILLINOIS
FARM REPORT


RELEASED: DECEMBER 22, 1999 IFR-99-16
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. 20, NO. 16
Highlights
Milk Production
Layers & Egg Production
Cropping Practices
Agricultural Prices
Farm Labor

Milk Production

Total milk production in Illinois during October 1999 was down four percent from a year earlier and November's production was down five percent. When compared to the same months in 1998, the number of milk cows decreased four percent for October and November. Milk production per cow in October was unchanged from a year earlier, but, for November, the rate per cow decreased 20 pounds, to 1,330.

In the 20 States, milk production was up four percent for both October and November. Milk production per cow was up three and four percent for October and November, respectively. The number of milk cows on farms increased one percent for both October and November of 1999 compared to 1998.

MILK PRODUCTION: ILLINOIS & 20 STATES, OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1998-99
  October
Illinois 20 States
1998 1999 99 as % of 98 1998 1999 99 as % of 98
Milk Production:
Number of milk cows Head (000) 126 121 96 7,695 7,752 101
Milk production per cow Lbs. 1,340 1,340 100 1,446 1,496 103
Total milk production Mil. lbs. 169 162 96 11,125 11,598 104
 
November
Milk Production:
Number of milk cows Head (000) 126 121 96 7,697 7,755 101
Milk production per cow Lbs. 1,350 1,330 99 1,407 1,458 104
Total milk production Mil. lbs. 170 161 95 10,829 11,306 104


Layers & Egg Production

LAYERS & EGG PRODUCTION, ILLINOIS &
UNITED STATES, SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER, 1998-99
  Illinois
September October November 1/
1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999
Average number of layers on hand (thousand) 2,962 3,640 2,943 3,683 2,921 3,601
Eggs produced (million) 64 84 65 89 62 83
  United States
Average number of layers on hand (thousand) 311,278 322,394 314,847 325,290 318,797 328,086
Eggs produced (million) 6,480 6,860 6,791 7,132 6,723 7,018
1/ Preliminary


Cropping Practices

Each year the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service conducts a survey in randomly selected corn and soybean fields in Illinois. Counts and measurements are made by enumerators during visits to these plots in all areas of the State. Monthly visits from late July through harvest provide information on crop development and yield prospects throughout the growing season.

Information in the following tables represent rounded sample data averages from this survey and are subject to sampling variations. These numbers are intended to show trends in corn and soybean production practices.

CORN

In 1999, the row width of corn for grain in Illinois averaged 31.4 inches. The average row spacing continued to decrease with 64 percent of the acreage at the 30-inch row spacing. Plant population of corn for grain in Illinois was 25,650 plants per acre. The number of ears per acre averaged 24,850. The plant population was a record that was primarily attributable to the decrease in average row spacing.

CORN FOR GRAIN: PERCENTAGE DISTRIBTUION BY ROW
WIDTH & AVERAGE ROW WIDTH, ILLINOIS 1995-99
Year Number
of
samples		 Row width (inches) Average
row
width
30.5
or less		 30.6-
34.5		 34.6-
36.5		 36.6-
38.5		 38.6 &
greater
  Number Percent of samples Inches
1995 268 56.7 19.4 10.5 12.3 1.1 31.9
1996 257 63.4 14.4 10.9 9.3 2.0 31.7
1997 270 61.4 17.8 11.9 7.4 1.5 31.6
1998 267 64.5 14.6 9.7 10.5 0.7 31.5
1999 269 64.0 18.6 7.4 9.3 0.7 31.4

CORN FOR GRAIN: AVERAGE PLANT POPULATION
& EARS PER ACRE, ILLINOIS, 1995-99
  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Number of plants 23,650 24,200 24,900 25,400 25,650
Number of ears 22,850 23,600 23,400 24,300 24,850

SOYBEANS

The average row width of soybeans in Illinois was 15.8 inches in 1999. The 10-inches or less row width was the most common, comprising 44.3 percent of the acreage. The number of pods per 18 square feet was 1,788, down six percent from last year's record level.

SOYBEANS: PERCANTAGE DISTRIBTUION BY ROW WIDTH &
AVERAGE ROW WIDTH, ILLINOIS, 1995-99
Year Number
of samples		 Row width (inches) Average
row 1/ width
10.0 or
less 1/		 10.1-
18.5		 18.6-
28.5		 28.6-
34.5		 34.6 &
greater
  Number Percent of samples Inches
1995 208 57.1 10.1 2.9 26.0 3.9 16.0
1996 202 53.2 15.2 2.2 25.5 3.9 16.0
1997 211 55.2 18.5 3.1 21.1 2.1 15.1
1998 205 54.5 17.8 2.0 22.0 3.7 15.5
1999 219 44.3 31.6 3.0 16.5 4.6 15.8
1/ Broadcast soybeans included as 10.0 inches and less but excluded in computation of average width.

SOYBEANS: AVERAGE NUMBER OF PODS
PER 18 SQUARE FEET, ILLINOIS, 1995-99
Month 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
September 1,816 1,505 1,828 2,087 1,917
November 1,764 1,573 1,708 1,902 1,788
Final 1,764 1,581 1,708 1,906 N/A
N/A Not Available


Agricultural Prices

November prices received by Illinois farmers for all commodities increased two points from last month, and is at 77 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 November all crops index, at 72 percent of the base, is one point more than the revised October figure but 14 points less than November 1998. Prices decreased for soybeans and wheat, while corn, sorghum, oats and hay prices increased. The all livestock index increased three points from the previous month and is at 91 percent of the base. This is 22 points more than November 1998. The price of hogs and calves decreased, while the price of beef cattle and milk increased. The hog-corn ratio decreased to 17.2.

The U.S. preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received in November was 93 based on 1990-92=100, up two points from the October index. The seasonal change in the mix of commodities farmers sell affect the overall index. Higher seasonal marketings of cotton, milk, cattle and cottonseed more than offset the relatively lower marketings of soybeans, peanuts, potatoes and lettuce. These marketing changes account for most of the November index increase. Higher prices for broilers, eggs, potatoes and corn slightly offset price decreases for milk, soybeans, oranges, hogs and lettuce. Compared with November 1998, the All Farm Products Index was six points lower. Price decreases from November 1998 for milk, cotton, soybeans and corn more than offset price increases for cattle, hogs, apples and calves.

INDEX OF PRICES RECEIVED BY FARMERS
Commodity Oct.
1998		 Nov.
1998		 Oct.
1999		 Nov. 15
1999
ILLINOIS 1992-96=100 1993-97=100
  All Farm Products 82 81 75* 77
  All Crops 84 86 71* 72
     Food grains 59 64 65* 64
     Feed grains/hay 82 84 70* 75
     Soybeans 88 90 74* 70
  All Livestock 78 69 88* 91
     Meat animals 69 58 85* 87
     Dairy products 122 126 108* 108
 
UNITED STATES 1990-92=100
  Prices Received 99 99 91* 93
   All Crops 100 101 88* 89
     Food grains 100 105 87* 87
     Feed grains/hay 85 86 76* 77
     Oilseeds 93 101 80* 80
   All Livestock 98 97 96* 98
     Meat animals 75 72 87* 87
     Dairy products 136 136 115* 110
  Prices Paid 114 114 117* 117
  Parity Ratio 1/ 87 87 78* 79
1/ Prices received index divided by prices paid index.
* Revised.

PRICES RECEIVED BY FARMERS 1/
Commodity Unit Illinois United States
Oct.,
1998		 Nov.,
1998		 Oct.,
1999		 Nov. 15,
1999		 Oct.,
1998		 Nov.,
1998		 Oct.,
1999		 Nov. 15,
1999
  Dollars
Corn Bushels 1.99 2.03 1.77* 1.90 1.91 1.93 1.69* 1.72
Soybeans Bushels 5.26 5.46 4.61* 4.50 5.18 5.39 4.47* 4.35
Sorghum Cwt. 3.30 3.41 2.79* 3.00 2.86 3.05 2.51* 2.59
Wheat, all Bushels 2.09 2.33 2.32* 2.30 2.77 2.95 2.58* 2.54
Oats Bushels 1.42 1.52 1.40* 1.45 1.09 1.10 1.07* 1.08
Hay, all, baled Tons 84.00 87.00 78.00 83.00 83.80 81.40 73.70* 74.00
Alfalfa hay, bld Tons 89.00 92.00 82.00 88.00 86.90 84.40 76.00* 77.30
Other hay, bld Tons 66.00 68.00 62.00 65.00 70.40 72.00 64.70* 64.80
Hogs, all Cwt. 25.30 16.20 32.80* 32.60 27.80 18.80 34.00* 32.90
Barrows, Gilts Cwt. 26.00 16.40 33.50* 33.40 28.20 19.00 34.70* 33.40
Sows Cwt. 18.20 13.70 24.40* 22.80 18.80 15.50 24.70* 24.30
Beef cattle Cwt. 57.70 58.20 65.60* 66.00 58.00 58.10 66.20* 66.20
Cows Cwt. 31.10 28.70 33.80* 32.80 30.50 29.70 33.80* 33.00
Steers, Heifers Cwt. 58.30 58.80 66.20* 66.70 61.40 62.30 70.10* 70.80
Calves Cwt. 95.00 95.00 112.00 110.00 75.70 77.50 91.90* 91.60
Milk cows Head 1,170.00 2/ 1,350.00 2/ 1,180.00 2/ 1,380.00* 2/
Milk, all Cwt. 16.80 17.10 14.90* 15.00 17.70 17.80 15.00* 14.40
Milk, fluid Cwt. 16.80 17.10 15.00 3/ 17.80 17.80 15.00* 14.40
Milk, mfg. Cwt. 17.60 18.00 13.20 3/ 16.80 17.30 12.60* 11.30
Hog-corn ratio   12.7 8.0 18.5* 17.2 14.6 9.7 20.1* 19.1
1/ Prices received represent the average of all grades or classes at point of first sale and should not be confused with market quotations.
2/ Estimated in January, April, July and October.
3/ State prices not published.
*Revised.


FARM LABOR

HIRED WORKERS: NUMBER & HOURS WORKED, BY REGIONS, OCT 10-16, 1999 1/
REGION 2/ Hired
Number
of workers		 Expected to be employed Number of
hours worked
150 days or more 149 days or less
  1,000 1,000  
LAKE 72 49 23 38.9
CORNBELT I 65 41 24 35.8
CORNBELT II 26 18 8 43.1
U.S. 989 665 324 42.5

HIRED WORKERS: WAGE RAGES FOR TYPE OF
WORKERS & ALL HIRED WORKERS, BY REGIONS, OCT 10-16, 1999 1/
REGION 2/ Type of worker Wage rates
for all
hired workers
Field Livestock Field & livestock
combined
  Dollars per hour
LAKE 8.42 7.71 8.18 8.64
CORNBELT I 7.65 7.17 7.57 8.27
CORNBELT II 7.85 7.86 7.85 8.17
U.S. 7.31 7.43 7.33 7.83
1/ Excludes agricultural service workers.
2/ Regions consist of the following: LAKE: MI, MN, WI; CORNBELT I: IL, IN, OH; CORNBELT II: IA, MO; UNITED STATES: Excludes Alaska.


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:

usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu

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.


World Wide Web

The Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service has a home page at:

http://www.agr.state.il.us/agstats.htm

The NASS headquarters office home page can be found at:

http://www.usda.gov/nass/

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.


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