Illinois Farm Earnings Improve but Remain Below Recent Averages

Farm earnings in Illinois saw an improvement in 2025 compared to 2024, but remained below recent averages. According to records from 1,927 certified usable farms enrolled in the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association (FBFM), average returns to farm operators' labor and management increased in every region of Illinois. However, these returns were still $139,505 lower than the five-year average.

The highest earnings were seen in northern, central, and western Illinois, while eastern and southern Illinois had the lowest. Operators' labor and management earnings averaged negative $23,191 in 2025, an improvement from 2024 but still the third-lowest annual return of the past 10 years.

Crop yields and costs were similar to the previous year, but higher commodity prices and Farmer Bridge Assistance payments helped boost returns. Corn yields averaged 231 bushels per acre, while soybean yields were at a record high of 69 bushels per acre. The average price received for corn was $4.20 per bushel, and $10.20 per bushel for soybeans.

Livestock prices also increased in 2025, leading to higher returns for livestock farms. However, total economic costs per acre to produce corn and soybeans decreased from 2024 in all areas of Illinois, with the cost per bushel of corn decreasing in every area except southern Illinois.