URBANA, Ill. — Since 1996, acreage changes in Illinois have been primarily shifting between corn and soybean. Todd Gleason has more…
Between 1996 and 2017, the sum of acres planted to corn, soybeans, and wheat have varied within a tight band for the state of Illinois. It has ranged from 22.0 million to 22.7 million acres for the three crops. Over this period acreage planted to wheat has been small and declining. It has decreased from 1.7 million in 1996 to just half-a-million in 2017. University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Gary Schnitkey says most of the acreage switches in the state have been between corn and soybeans. He makes note that this is a trend east of the Mississippi River, and while corn acres still out-number soybean in Illinois, that’s not the case in Ohio.
Schnitkey: Beans are more than corn in Ohio. The acreage is roughly the same in Indiana, and we are approaching near equality here in Illinois.
These are the historical facts for Illinois. In 1998, corn and soybean acres were each at 10.6 million. With some yearly variations, corn acres then increased and soybean acres generally decreased from 1998 to 2012. In 2012, 12.8 million acres of corn were planted and 9.0 million acres of soybeans. Since then, corn acres have decreased and soybean acres have increased. Corn acres declined from 12.8 million in 2012 to 11.2 million in 2016. Soybean increased from 9.0 million to that same 11.2 million over the same period.
— Gary Schnitkey, Agricultural Economist – University of Illinois
Todd Gleason, Farm Broadcaster
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