Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service today released the USDA's Annual Fall Crop Summary, Winter Wheat Seedings, and Grain Stocks Report. State and national highlights of the report include:

The 1999 final corn for grain yield estimate was 140 bushels per acre, one bushel less than the 1998 yield and 16 bushels below the 1994 record yield of 156 bushels per acre. Production totaled 1.49 billion bushels, slightly larger than the 1998 production of 1.47 billion bushels and the fifth highest production on record. Of the 10.8 million acres planted to corn, 10.65 million acres were harvested for grain. This was 200 thousand acres more than the acres harvested for grain in 1998. Planting was limited during April, with less than ten percent of the crop planted by May 1. However, warm, dry weather during the first week of May allowed planting progress to surpass the five-year average by May 9. The crop got off to a very good start as June provided adequate rainfall. The latter half of July wasn't as cooperative though, as prolonged heat and dry weather stressed the crop and pushed maturity. In mid-August, a severe thunderstorm with high winds moved through central Illinois, causing damage between the Illinois River and Springfield. The crop continued to mature well ahead of average and limited harvesting began by the end of the month. Producers took advantage of dry conditions during September and October to harvest at near record levels. By October 31, 94 percent of the crop had been harvested.

The final yield for the 1999 soybean crop was 42 bushels per acre, two bushels below the 1998 yield. Production totaled 443.1 million bushels, five percent below the 1998 record production of 464.2 million bushels, but the second highest production on record. Planted and harvested acreage, at 10.6 million and 10.55 million, respectively, were both second to the record acreages planted and harvested in 1998. Planting of the 1999 crop got off to a slow start at the beginning of May, but caught up during the last half of the month and was mostly finished by mid-June. Warm, sunny weather advanced crop development but above average temperatures during the last half of July began to stress the crop. Near to below normal precipitation coupled with near to below normal temperatures during August and September helped to push the crop to maturity. Near ideal harvest conditions during October helped harvest progress ahead of normal and was nearly complete by October 31.

The final 1999 yield for sorghum for grain was 95 bushels per acre, 21 bushels above the 1998 yield of 74 bushels per acre. Production for 1999 totaled 9.215 million bushels, 16 percent above the 1998 production. Total planted and harvested for grain acreage in 1999 of 100 and 97 thousand acres, respectively, were the lowest since 1988, when planted and harvested for grain acreage totaled 90 and 80 thousand acres, respectively.

Production of all hay in 1999 was 2.7 million tons, 19 percent less than was produced in 1998. Alfalfa hay production was down 21 percent to 2.0 million tons while all other hay was down 16 percent to 735 thousand tons. Yields were down for both, with alfalfa dropping from 4.2 to 4.0 tons per acre and all other from 2.5 to 2.1 tons per acre. Alfalfa acreage cut for hay was 500 thousand in 1999, down from 600 thousand in 1998. Acreage of all other hay cut was 350 thousand, the same as in 1998.

An estimated 950 thousand acres of winter wheat were seeded in the fall of 1999, ten percent less than in 1998. This was the smallest acreage seeded since 850 thousand acres were seeded in the fall of 1984. The condition of the crop as of January 2, 2000 was four percent excellent, 32 percent good, 48 percent fair, 14 percent poor and two percent very poor.

The 1999 crop season began with cooperative weather and allowed farmers to begin planting ahead of normal. Adequate rainfall throughout June helped both the corn and soybean crops develop ahead of the five-year average. However, July brought drier weather that continued into August causing stress to the crops. A severe thunderstorm with high winds passed through central Illinois in mid-August, flattening some corn fields in this region. The dry weather allowed harvest to begin early in September and progress quickly, with 94 percent of the corn and 98 percent of the soybean acreage harvested by October 31.

Corn for grain production was estimated at 9.44 billion bushels, down three percent from the 1998 crop and down one percent from the November 1 forecast. The 1999 production ranks as the fourth highest production on record behind the 1994, 1998, and 1992 respective crop years. The U. S. yield of 133.8 bushels per acre, was down 0.6 bushel from last year. Planted area totaled 77.4 million acres, three percent less than in 1998. Acres harvested for grain, at 70.5 million acres, were also down by three percent from 1998. For most states, abandoned acres were at or below the normal levels in 1999.

Corn planting proceeded rapidly and was 96 percent complete by May 29, 1999, ahead of the average of 90 percent. Favorable conditions prevailed over most of the Corn Belt through the summer months. Some areas of the corn belt were subjected to heat stress for a short time during late-July. By the beginning of August, 91 percent of the corn acreage was silking in the 17 major corn-producing States, compared with the average of 78 percent.

At that time, the percent of corn rated good to excellent totaled 63 percent, below the 68 percent in 1998. Corn ripened quickly in September and October and harvest proceeded well ahead of normal due to dry weather. As of November 14, harvest was 96 percent complete compared with 93 percent last year, and the five-year average of 80 percent.

The 1999 Corn Objective Yield data indicated record ear counts for five of the seven objective yield States, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Ohio and Minnesota were at the second and forth highest levels, respectively.

Soybean production in 1999 totaled 2.64 billion bushels, down one percent from the November 1 forecast, four percent below 1998 and is the third highest production. The average yield per acre in 1999 is estimated at 36.5 bushels, 0.2 bushels below the November 1 forecast and is 2.4 bushels below the 1998 yield. Final yields were adjusted down in 12 states, increased in 12 states and left unchanged in the remaining six states.

Planted area for the U.S., at 73.8 million acres, was up two percent from 1998, and is the largest planted acreage on record. Harvested area totaled 72.5 million acres, also a record and is three percent above 1998. Acreage planted was decreased 365,000 acres from the previous August estimate of 74.2 million acres and acreage harvested was decreased 310,000 acres from the November estimate of 72.8 million acres.

Planting of the 1999 soybean crop was delayed during May, but by the end of June was ahead of normal and 1998. Heavy and persistent storms during much of May kept many producers from getting a good start planting in most of the western Corn Belt and Great Plains. The eastern Corn Belt States completed planting with the fewest weather disruptions.

Overall, crop maturity progressed at a very accelerated pace. As of October 3, the percent of the soybeans dropping leaves had reached 88 percent, one percentage point ahead of 1998, and ahead of the 82 percent 5-year average. Freezing temperatures halted crop development and assisted in drying the crop in areas of northern Corn Belt and Great Plains during the last two weeks of September.

Despite some delays caused by rain, soybean harvest progressed well ahead of normal. Harvest progress during October advanced at a very fast pace as near ideal conditions prevailed in most areas of the Corn Belt, Great Plains and Delta region. Harvest in Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern States was not as advanced and was running behind the previous year's pace. Harvest was nearing completion by November 14, as 97 percent had been harvested, one percentage point ahead of 1998 and three percentage points ahead of the 5-year average.

Final pod counts from the Objective Yield survey were the highest on record in Iowa and Nebraska. All other objective yield States, except for Minnesota, had fewer pods than 1998 final counts.

Sorghum grain production in 1999 was estimated at 595 million bushels, essentially unchanged from the November forecast and up 14 percent from 1998. Area harvested for grain was estimated at 8.5 million acres, up 11 percent from 1998. Average grain yield, at 69.7 bushels per acre, was 2.4 bushels above the 1998 average yield. Kansas continues to lead the Nation in sorghum planted and harvested acres and production for both grain and silage. Texas sorghum acres decreased from last year, mainly due to an increase in cotton planted acreage.

All Hay production for 1999 was estimated at 159 million tons, down slightly from the October 1 forecast but up five percent from the 1998 total. Acreage harvested, at 63.2 million acres, is up slightly from the October forecast and up five percent from 1998. The average yield, at 2.52 tons per acre, was down 0.08 tons from the October forecast and down slightly from the previous year. Texas regained its number one spot for hay production with 13.1 million tons, followed by South Dakota, California, and Nebraska.

Winter Wheat planted area for harvest in 2000 is estimated at 42.9 million acres. This is down one percent from 1999 and is the lowest level since 1972. Seeding started last August in the Pacific Northwest, some Mountain states, and Minnesota. Progress moved steadily forward through the fall, only slowing in some locations as farmers waited for rain. Seeding should finish sometime in 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, and Texas.

GRAIN STOCKS

Illinois corn stocks on December 1, 1999 totaled 1.43 billion bushels. This was five percent above a year earlier and the highest level since 1.46 billion bushels were stored December 1, 1994. On-farm stocks, at 790 million bushels, accounted for 55 percent of the total stocks. Off-farm stocks, at 635.8 million bushels, increased nearly ten percent from a year earlier.

Soybean stocks were at a record high with 435.2 million bushels stored in all positions on December 1, 1999. This was slightly larger than the previous record high of 431.8 million bushels stored December 1, 1998. Of the total stocks, 225 million bushels were stored on farms, four percent less than a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 210.2 million bushels, were up six percent from a year earlier.

Wheat stocks totaled 39.4 million bushels on December 1, 1999. This was an increase of 11 percent from 1998 and the highest December level since 42.2 million bushels were stored in 1983. Off-farm stocks at 33.8 million bushels, accounted for 86 percent of the state total.