The USDA has released its annual report on corn and soybean yields and production for each Illinois county.
Marion County farmers saw a significant jump in yield per acre and overall production compared to 2020.
Corn yield jumped to 201.6 bushels per acre with total production of 15,846,000 bushels. County farmers planted 79,600 acres and harvested just a 1,000 acres less. The yield is just under the statewide corn yield of 202 bushels per acre.
Soybean harvest was placed at 59.3 bushels per acre with a total production of 5,966,000 bushels. 101,500 acres of soybeans were planted with 100,600 acres harvested. The statewide soybean yield was 64 bushels per acre.
The corn yield in Marion County increased 16 and a half bushels per acre over 2020. The increased yield combined with 1,100 more corn acres being harvested increased the county’s production 1,501,000 bushels.
The soybean yield in Marion County increased 5.4-bushels an acre from 2020. Even with 1,000 less acres harvested, the county’s soybean production increased 490,000 bushels.
Marion-Clinton County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Conant earlier told WJBD-WSIQ news that 2021 would be an exceptional year for farmers not only as a result of increased yield, but because of an increase in market price. He notes farmers will face additional challenges in the coming growing season from increased fertilizer, fuel, and other input costs.
Statewide, Illinois farmers produced two billion 192-million bushels of corn and just under 673 million bushels of soybeans. Corn production statewide was up 61-million bushels. Soybean production was up 68-million bushels.
