In 2002, the total of all economic costs per acre for growing corn in Illinois averaged $411 in the northern section, $416 in the central section for farmland with “high” soil ratings, $391 in the central section for farmland with “low” soil ratings, and $350 in the southern section. Soybean costs per acre were $337, $341, $312 and $275, 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 $2.59 to $3.61 for corn and from $6.24 to $8.09 for soybeans. Variations in this cost were related to weather, yields, and land quality. Southern Illinois had the highest costs per bushel to produce corn and soybeans because of below average yields caused by dry weather last summer.
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