Illinois crop production info released

Corn: Planted area is estimated at 11.7 million acres, unchanged from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 11.5 million acres, is also unchanged from 2015. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois corn yield is forecast at record 202 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels from September and up 27 bushels from 2015. Production is forecast at 2.32 billion bushels, up 1 percent from September and up 15 percent from last year’s production. If realized this would be the second highest production on record behind 2014.

Soybeans: Planted area is estimated at 10.1 million acres, up 3 percent from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 10.05 million acres, is up 3 percent from 2015. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois soybean yield is forecast at 62 bushels per acre, a 6 bushel increase from 2015. If realized, this would be the highest yield on record for the state. Production is forecast at a record setting 623 million bushels, a 14 percent increase from last year.

Alfalfa hay: Harvested area, forecast at 240,000 acres, is up 4 percent from 2015. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois alfalfa hay yield is forecast at 4.00 tons per acre, up 0.50 ton from the previous year. Production is forecast at 960,000 tons, 19 percent above 2015.

Other hay: Harvested area, forecast at 240,000 acres, is down 8 percent from 2015. Based on October 1 conditions, the Illinois other hay yield is forecast at 2.90 tons per acre, up 0.10 ton from the previous year. Production is estimated at 696,000 tons, 4 percent below 2015.