Illinois expected to plant more beans

Growers in Illinois intend to plant 10.9 million acres of corn in 2024, down 3 percent from the previous year, according to the Illinois Prospective Plantings information released by USDA Thursday.

Soybean planted area is expected to total 10.5 million acres, up a percent from 2023. Winter wheat area seeded last fall is estimated at 780,000 acres, down 7 percent from the year before.

The area planted to oats is expected to total 60,000 acres, up 9 percent from 2023.

Producers intend to harvest 470,000 acres of all hay in 2024, up 15 percent from last year.