We all see the lush fields of corn and soybeans on almost any drive longer than ten minutes in our area. Living in Central Illinois means that we live around the vital industry that is corn and soybean production, and with the men and women that transform these fields from a small seedling in April and May to a marketable product in September and October. Welcome to the new bi-weekly column entitled the Ag Minute where we take a deep dive into agricultural topics and issues affecting Central Illinois.
Our region is famous for the extremely fertile soils that exist and are complemented with a conducive climate to producing corn and soybeans. To provide a sense of scale, according to the USDA’s most recent census, an area in Sangamon County alone almost ¾ the size of Rhode Island is farmed. Over 85% of the farmland in the county is in corn or soybeans annually, with slightly more corn than soybeans. Economically, county farmers sold over a half billion dollars of corn and soybeans in 2022. Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mike Murphy discussed the large impact that agricultural production has on the local economy. He notes that generally speaking, food and crops must be produced for folks to eat worldwide. “Not everyone is blessed with the fertile ground that we have here.” Over time, market fluctuations have forced producers out of areas that are unable to efficiently and profitably produce a crop, leaving areas such as those across Sangamon County to continue producing vast amounts of grain. Sangamon County is ranked 6th in Illinois in terms of value of grain sold, and had the second highest average soybean yield in the state (72.7 bushels per acre) in 2022. Outside of corn and soybeans, almost 20 million dollars worth of other agricultural goods are sold annually primarily in the form of hogs and cattle.
Most outsiders and even locals would become bored with the sight of more corn and soybeans, but few would realize the significant economic impact of those endless fields. Every area business benefits from the net export of agricultural goods from the county, bringing in substantial amounts of money. Going further, public organizations like school districts benefit a significant portion from property taxes on valuable farmland that Murphy says are crucial to rural school districts. He emphasizes the fact that the success of agriculture leads to further success in the community due to farmworkers spending money outside of ag. In a nation so reliant upon the value that agriculture brings by supplying the world with two of the most basic needs, food and energy, our community continues to move forward in the production of grain and livestock.
To view the county agricultural snapshot from 2022 organized by the USDA, follow the link to https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Illinois/cp17167.pdf
Comentarios