County Farm Facts

     Peoria County is in the west-central part of Illinois. It has an area of 402,600 acres or 629 square miles. Approximately 185,000 acres or 46% of Peoria County is used for cultivated crops.
     The total annual precipitation is 35 inches. Of this, 23 inches, usually falls in April through September. The growing season for most crops falls within this period.
     Soil is a dominant natural resource in Peoria County. Corn and Soybeans are the primary cultivated crops. Secondary farm products include winter wheat, oats, vegetables, cattle, hogs, dairy products, sheep and wool, and poultry.
     Approximately 25,000 acres in the county is woodland. Most of the woodland is along the major drainageways and some has been pastured to livestock.
There are no natural lakes in the county. Manmade lakes and the Illinois River make up more than 9000 acres of surface water.
     The Rozetta-Keomah-Sylvan Association of soils make up approximately 37% of the county. This association of soils is on uplands incised by narrow drainageways. The soils are nearly level and gently sloping on ridges and gently sloping to strongly sloping on side slopes. Slopes are generally short and smooth. Typically the surface layer is grayish brown, friable silt loam that is 8 inches thick.
     The Ipava-Tama-Elkart Association of soils makes up about 25% of the county. This association consists mainly of soils on ridges and side slopes along shallow drainageways. Slopes are generally long and smooth. Typically, the surface layer is very dark gray or brown, friable silt loam and 10 inches thick.
     The Hickory-Strawn-Marseilles Association of soils make up about 15% of the county. This association consists of soils on side slopes and foot slopes bordering stream valleys and uplands. Small drainageways and the adjacent larger flood plains are in some areas.    Typically, the surface layer is dark grayish brown, very friable silt loam that is 5 inches thick.
    

     In 2010, Peoria County farmers harvested a corn crop with an average yield of 157.6 bushels per acre. They harvested 118,000 acres with a total production over 18.5 million bushels.

     In 2009, Peoria County farmers harvested a corn crop with an average yield of 176 bushels per acre. They harvested 115,000 acres with a total production over 20 million bushels. 

     In 2008, Peoria County farmers harvested a record corn crop with an average yield of 201 bushels per acre. They harvested 113,600 acres with total production over 22 million bushels. Farmers planted 121,000 acres of corn in 2007 with an average yield of 188 bushels per acre. In 2006, there were 110,000 acres of corn planted that averaged 171 bushels per acre. The 2005 corn crop was planted on 120,000 acres and only averaged 119 bushels per acre due to a regional drought.
    

     In 2010, Peoria County farmers averaged 54.8 bushels per acre of soybeans, and harvested 76,000 acres of soybeans with a total production of over 4 million bushels.

     In 2009, Peoria County farmers averaged 45 bushels per acre of soybeans, and harvested 71,000 acres of soybeans with a total production of over 3.18 million bushels.

     Peoria County farmers averaged 52 bushels per acre of soybeans in 2008. Farmers harvested 68,700 acres of soybeans with total production over 3.5 million bushels. The 2007 soybean crop was planted on 62,000 acres and had an average yield of 48 bushels per acre. Farmers planted 81,000 acres of soybeans in 2006 and harvested an average yield of 52 bushels per acre. The drought stricken 2005 soybean crop was planted on 80,000 acres but still yielded 45 bushels per acre.
    

      Wheat is a distant third in terms of cultivated crops in Peoria County. In 2009, there were 3300 acres of wheat planted, and in 2008, wheat was planted on less than 1000 acres in the county. In 2007 there were 4000 acres planted and the average yield was 55 bushels. The 2006 wheat crop was planted on 3900 acres and averaged 67 bushels per acre. Peoria County farmers harvested 2100 acres of wheat in 2005 with an average yield of 61 bushels per acre.
     In 2009, there were approximately 1300 acres in hay production in Peoria County. Hay includes alfalfa, clovers and grasses that is harvested and fed to cattle and horses.
     There are several farms in the county that have beef cattle primarily utilizing sloped land that is unsuitable for tillage and crop production. A few farmers have hogs, sheep and poultry and only 3 or 4 dairy operations are in Peoria County.
    

     Peoria County farmers continue to adopt tillage practices that conserve their most important resource...soil. No-till, strip till, mulch till, and reduced tillage practices all help to keep soil in the field instead of being suspended in runoff water. No-till and mulch tillage practices keep more than 30% residue coverage on the soil surface as measured after planting. Reduced tillage keeps between 15% and 30% residue coverage, and conventional tillage has less than 15% coverage. Residue is the plant material left on the soil surface after harvest in the fall (in Peoria County that is typically corn and soybean stalks, leaves, corn cobs, husks, and bean pods). Peoria County farmers are using no-till practices on 33% of their corn acreage and 63% of soybean acreage. Mulch tillage is used on 26% of corn acres and 19% of soybeans acres. Reduced tillage practices are utilized on 34% of corn acres and 15 soybean acres and conventional tillage is being used on 6% corn and 3% of the soybean acres.

County Farm Facts

Peoria County is in the west-central part of Illinois. It has an area of 402,600 acres or 629 square miles. Approximately 185,000 acres or 46% of Peoria County is used for cultivated crops.

The total annual precipitation is 35 inches. Of this, 23 inches, usually falls in April through September. The growing season for most crops falls within this period.

Soil is a dominant natural resource in Peoria County. Corn and Soybeans are the primary cultivated crops. Secondary farm products include winter wheat, oats, vegetables, cattle, hogs, dairy products, sheep and wool, and poultry.

Approximately 25,000 acres in the county is woodland. Most of the woodland is along the major drainageways and some has been pastured to livestock.

There are no natural lakes in the county. Manmade lakes and the Illinois River make up more than 9000 acres of surface water.

The Rozetta-Keomah-Sylvan Association of soils make up approximately 37% of the county. This association of soils is on uplands incised by narrow drainageways. The soils are nearly level and gently sloping on ridges and gently sloping to strongly sloping on side slopes. Slopes are generally short and smooth. Typically the surface layer is grayish brown, friable silt loam that is 8 inches thick.

The Ipava-Tama-Elkart Association of soils makes up about 25% of the county. This association consists mainly of soils on ridges and side slopes along shallow drainageways. Slopes are generally long and smooth. Typically, the surface layer is very dark gray or brown, friable silt loam and 10 inches thick.

The Hickory-Strawn-Marseilles Association of soils make up about 15% of the county. This association consists of soils on side slopes and foot slopes bordering stream valleys and uplands. Small drainageways and the adjacent larger flood plains are in some areas. Typically, the surface layer is dark grayish brown, very friable silt loam that is 5 inches thick.

In 2007, Peoria County farmers planted 121,000 acres of corn with an average yield of 188 bushels per acre. In 2006, there were 110,000 acres of corn planted that averaged 171 bushels per acre. The 2005 corn crop was planted on 120,000 acres and only averaged 119 bushels per acre due to a regional drought.

The 2007 soybean crop was planted on 62,000 acres and had an average yield of 48 bushels per acre. Farmers planted 81,000 acres of soybeans in 2006 and harvested an average yield of 52 bushels per acre. The drought stricken 2005 soybean crop was planted on 80,000 acres but still yielded 45 bushels per acre.

Wheat is a distant third in terms of cultivated crops in Peoria County. In 2007 there were 4000 acres planted and the average yield was 55 bushels. The 2006 wheat crop was planted on 3900 acres and averaged 67 bushels per acre. Peoria County farmers harvested 2100 acres of wheat in 2005 with an average yield of 61 bushels per acre.

There are approximately 4000 acres in hay production in Peoria County. Hay includes alfalfa, clovers and grasses that is harvested and fed to cattle and horses.

There are several farms in the county that have beef cattle primarily utilizing sloped land that is unsuitable for tillage and crop production. A few farmers have hogs, sheep and poultry and only 3 or 4 dairy operations are in Peoria County.                                                      

Peoria County farmers continue to adopt tillage practices that conserve their most important resource...soil. No-till, strip till, mulch till, and reduced tillage practices all help to keep soil in the field instead of being suspended in runoff water. No-till and mulch tillage practices keep more than 30% residue coverage on the soil surface as measured after planting. Reduced tillage keeps between 15% and 30% residue coverage, and conventional tillage has less than 15% coverage. Residue is the plant material left on the soil surface after harvest in the fall (in Peoria County that is typically corn and soybean stalks, leaves, corn cobs, husks, and bean pods). Peoria County farmers are using no-till practices on 33% of their corn acreage and 63% of soybean acreage. Mulch tillage is used on 26% of corn acres and 19% of soybeans acres. Reduced tillage practices are utilized on 34% of corn acres and 15 soybean acres and conventional tillage is being used on 6% corn and 3% of the soybean acres.