ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Illinois corn and soybean production is expected to be down significantly from last year, according to the USDA NASS, Heartland Regional Field Office. The October Crop Production Report is based on conditions as of October 1, 2019. Some highlights of the report follow:
Corn: Planted area is estimated at 10.50 million acres, down 5 percent from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 10.25 million acres, is down 6 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois corn yield is forecast at 179 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from last month and down 31 bushels from 2018. Production is forecast at 1.83 billion bushels, down 19 percent from last year’s production.
Soybeans: Planted area is estimated at 10.0 million acres, down 7 percent from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 9.94 million acres, is down 5 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois soybean yield is forecast at 51 bushels per acre, down 12.5 bushels from 2018. Production is forecast at 507 million bushels, down 24 percent from 2018.
Alfalfa hay: Harvested area, forecast at 240,000 acres, is down 4 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois alfalfa hay yield is forecast at 3.60 tons per acre, up 0.30 ton from the previous year. Production is forecast at 864,000 tons, 5 percent above 2018.
Other hay: Harvested area, forecast at 230,000 acres, is up 5 percent from 2018. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois other hay yield is forecast at 2.20 tons per acre, unchanged from the previous year. Production is estimated at 506,000 tons, 5 percent above 2018.
— USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Heartland Regional Field Office
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