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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Illinois
farmers are expected to get 210 bushels of corn per acre. If
Illinois’ projection this year comes to fruition, it would match
its record-high yields of 2018.
Some farmers in east central Illinois are reporting 250 bushels
of corn per acre, an impressive feat considering that part of
the state experienced extreme drought conditions.
About a 10th of the state experienced drought conditions this
year. That is better than neighboring Iowa, where more than half
the state is in varying drought conditions, according to the
U.S. Drought Monitor.
Bill Leigh owns a farm in Marshall County. He said the corn
yields are decent despite the lack of rain.
“The month of August and the first two weeks of September only
had like less than two inches and it kind of, as I describe it,
died ugly,” said Leigh.
Soybeans were helped by the freeze in early October.
As of last week, 53% of soybeans were reported in good
condition.
There are roughly 75,000 farm operators, down from 164,000 in
1959. During the same time period, the average farm size more
than doubled as technology made many aspects of the farming
industry less labor-intensive.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
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