November 2022 Volume 5, Issue 3
Fall Harvest is In
The numbers are coming in and the Illinois harvest is faring better than the national average. Currently the projected average corn yield in Northern Illinois is estimated at 204 bushels per acre this fall, up 2 bushels per acre from 2021.
Illinois also leads the country in estimated soybean yield with 66 bushels per acre, an increase of 3% compared to 2021 when soybean yield was 64 bushels per acre.
Carroll County farmer Adam Bergman has helped to work their multi-generational family farm for the last two and a half decades. Their harvest is in, and they are satisfied with the numbers compared to the national average and the Illinois average.
The main product of their farm is dairy, but they also farm corn and soybeans. Adam explained that year to year farmers deal with fickle weather and equipment breakdowns that can affect the crop yields. This year the weather has cooperated. “It rained when it needed to and was dry when that was needed so that really helped our yield.”
Equipment breakdowns accounted for some of their frustrations as parts were more difficult to get due to supply chain slow down.
Cooperating weather conditions this growing season, fewer equipment breakdowns has accounted for their farm yield of two hundred and thirty-five bushels of corn per acre. The final numbers for soybeans are not in yet but looks to be somewhere between sixty to eighty bushels per acre.
Bergman agreed that prices for their corn and soybeans are up from last year. For the 2022 harvest they are anticipating somewhere between $7-$8 a bushel for corn and $10-$12 a bushel for soybeans. The additional income will help to offset the higher costs involved with running their farm.
According to Farmdocdaily.illinois.edu, projected income from corn for this fall of 2022 currently stands at an average of $5.00-$5.50 per bushel (up from $4.40 in 2020). This works out to be $1,125 per acre in revenue. Projected income from soybeans for this fall of 2022 currently stands at an average of $12.00 per bushel (up from $11.22 in 2020). This works out to be $852 per acre in revenue.
Farmdocdaily.illinois.edu goes on to inform that those numbers should represent higher profits, but this season has had its share of financial challenges for local farmers. Increased fuel costs, slow access to and increased costs of needed equipment and parts, asset depreciation and increased seed costs all add to farm operating costs which affect their bottom line. After all the many additional costs of running a farm, which includes fertilizer, pesticides, crop insurance, seed, storage, drying, increased fuel costs, equipment maintenance and repair, hired help, some farmers may expect a return of anywhere from $60-$100 per acre.