In 2001, the total of all economic costs per acre for growing corn in Illinois averaged $429 in the northern section, $430 in the central section for farmland with “high” soil ratings, $415 in the central section for farmland with “low” soil ratings, and $374 in the southern section. Soybean costs per acre were $347, $351, $330 and $292, respectively (see Table 1). Costs were lower in the southern Illinois primarily because of lower land costs. The total of all economic costs per bushel in the different sections of the state ranged from $2.48 to $2.70 for corn and from $6.49 to $7.23 for soybeans. Variations in this cost were related to weather, yields, and land quality.
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