Average farm operator returns for labor and management on 3,165 Illinois farms varied considerably between geographic areas and decreased slightly in 2002 compared to returns experienced by producers in 2001. Higher grain prices and slightly lower costs did not offset lower corn yields and less government payments. Lower livestock returns also contributed to lower incomes on farms producing livestock. Changes in the government farm program and higher grain prices sharply reduced the amount of government farm program payments producers received in 2002.
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