By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The USDA Illinois National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) field office’s Farm Report for March 23 shows along with rising crop values in Illinois, the number of farm operations in the state increased in 2010.
The 2010 season average for corn for grain in Illinois was $5.50 per bushel, with a total value of production of $10.7 billion. The figures represent huge increases from 2009’s totals of $3.53 and just over $7.2 billion in production.
The U.S. average was $5.40 per bushel and $66.7 billion in production, respectively.

Soybeans fetched $12.40 per bushel and accounted for $5.8 billion in production value in Illinois last year, according to Illinois NASS. That was up from $9.80 and $4.1 billion in production in 2009.

The U.S. average in 2010 was $11.70 per bushel and $38.9 billion in production for soybeans.

Corn and soybean prices received by Illinois farmers were updated through Feb. 15 in the latest report. Corn averaged $5.60 and soybeans $12 as of that date, NASS reported.

In addition, the number of farms increased in Illinois in 2010 to 76,000 from 75,800 in 2009, according to the report. The number of farms in the $1,000-$9,999 economic sales class rose to 33,400 in 2010, an increase of 1,000 farms over 2009. Meanwhile, the number of farms in all other economic classes decreased slightly, the report shows.

More pigs than last year
Illinois NASS released the USDA’s March 1 Hogs and Pigs Report March 25, showing the number of hogs and pigs in Illinois was 4.4 million, 2 percent more than were on hand on the first of December 2010.

Breeding hogs were estimated at 470,000 head, down 2 percent from a year prior, while market hogs rose by 3 percent to 3.93 million head over the same date in 2010, according to the report.

Illinois’ pig crop from December 2010-February 2011 was pegged at 2.4 million, or 2 percent fewer than a year earlier. And, 250,000 sows farrowed during the time period, 4 percent fewer than a year ago.

Sows averaged 9.6 pigs per litter, consistent with the previous quarter.
Farmers intend to farrow 250,000 sows during the March-May quarter, 7 percent fewer than a year prior.

The U.S. hog and pig inventory was 64 million head  March 1, up 1 percent from March 1, 2010, but down 1 percent from the previous quarter, according to NASS.

All Illinois reports can be accessed in full online at www.nass.usda.gov/il