Illinois Department of Agriculture
Agriculture is the #1 industry in Illinois in terms of economic impact, contributing more than $8.85 billion to the state’s economy annually. The state’s 72,500 farms contain more than 27.3 million acres of land, including some of the most fertile soil in the world. To sustain its vast production, the Illinois Department of Agriculture works to implement a variety of conservation programs that protect the nearly 1,500 types of soil found within the state.
From the types of crops grown to the different conservation practices utilized throughout the state, Illinois agriculture is very diverse. In fact, the state is the largest producer of both horseradishes and pumpkins. Located in the Midwest, Illinois also annually ranks either first or second in the nation in both corn and soybean production, and is the fourth largest pork producer.
The abundance and variety of agricultural products grown in Illinois make it one of the leading states in terms of the number of food and agricultural companies and helps to make the state a place international buyers seek out when selecting new suppliers.
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Top 5 agriculture commodities, 2006
|
|
|
Value of receipts
thousand $
|
Percent of state total
farm receipts
|
Percent of US value
|
|
1. Corn
|
3,594,141
|
41.6
|
16.6
|
|
2. Soybeans
|
2,509,651
|
29.1
|
14.8
|
|
3. Hogs
|
803,417
|
9.3
|
5.7
|
|
4. Cattle and calves
|
595,751
|
6.9
|
1.2
|
|
5. Greenhouse/nursery
|
304,986
|
3.5
|
1.8
|
|
|
|
All commodities
|
8,635,700
|
|
3.6
|
|
Farm income and value added data
|
|
|
2005
|
2006
|
|
|
|
Number of farms
|
72,500
|
72,400
|
|
|
|
|
Thousands $
|
|
Final crop output
|
6,050,496
|
7,208,629
|
|
+ Final animal output
|
1,957,335
|
1,832,682
|
|
+ Services and forestry
|
1,038,869
|
1,112,411
|
|
= Final agricultural sector output
|
9,046,699
|
10,153,722
|
|
|
|
- Intermediate consumption outlays
|
5,395,397
|
5,350,669
|
|
+ Net government transactions
|
1,255,411
|
472,862
|
|
= Gross value added
|
4,906,713
|
5,275,914
|
|
|
|
- Capital consumption
|
1,229,816
|
1,283,738
|
|
|
|
= Net value added
|
3,676,897
|
3,992,176
|
|
|
|
- Factor payments
|
2,304,659
|
2,481,187
|
|
Employee compensation (total hired labor)
|
429,862
|
393,144
|
|
Net rent received by nonoperator landlords
|
1,183,948
|
1,304,026
|
|
Real estate and nonreal estate interest
|
690,849
|
784,017
|
|
|
|
= Net farm income
|
1,372,238
|
1,510,989
|
http://www.agr.state.il.us/