Illinois Data and Statistics - FIC

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Illinois Data and Statistics

Welcome to the Illinois Statistics page. Here you will find frequently requested data specific to this state from AFT's Farms Under Threat: The State of the States report, the National Resources Inventory, and the Census of Agriculture. You also can link to additional information and data sources.

On This Page

Farms Under Threat

National Resources Inventory

Census of Agriculture

Other Data Sources

Farms Under Threat: The State of the States

All estimates represent figures for the Conterminous U.S.

Total and Agricultural Land Cover/Use

Data Item Acres
Total land area in 2016 36,058,100
Agricultural land in 2016 27,381,000
Cropland in 2016 23,413,700
Pastureland in 2016 2,198,700
Rangeland  in 2016 0
Woodland in 2016 1,768,600
Agricultural land in 2001 27,459,900

High-quality Agricultural Land

Data Item Acres
Nationally Significant agricultural land in 2016 23,084,100
Nationally Significant agricultural land in 2001 23,212,500
Best agricultural land in 2016 17,174,200
Best agricultural land in 2001 17,104,600

Nationally Significant agricultural land is the land best-suited to long-term, intensive crop production within the Conterminous United States; and each state’s “best land” is approximately the better half of all agricultural land in each state. For more information about these categories of high-quality agricultural land and how they were identified, see the interactive website for Farms Under Threat: The State of the States, and the fact sheet about AFT’s Productivity, Versatility, and Resiliency (PVR) Analysis.

Agricultural Land Converted from 2001-2016

Data Item Acres
Agricultural land developed or compromised 244,300
Agricultural land converted to urban and highly-developed land use (UHD) 161,600
Agricultural land converted to low-density residential land use (LDR) 82,700
Nationally Significant agricultural land developed or compromised 176,800
Nationally Significant agricultural land converted to UHD 121,600
Nationally Significant agricultural land converted to LDR 55,200
Best agricultural land developed or compromised 45,600
Best agricultural land converted to UHD 7,700
Best agricultural land converted to LDR 37,900

Learn More


2012 National Resources Inventory

1997-2002 2002-2007 2007-2012 1982-2012
Agricultural land converted to developed land (acres) 105,100 99,300 52,300 690,600
Agricultural land at the beginning of the reporting period (acres) 27,306,600 27,022,600 26,797,000 27,933,000
Prime agricultural land at the beginning of the reporting period (acres) 19,833,500 19,703,400 19,594,400 20,149,400
Forest land converted to developed land (acres) 24,300 28,800 11,800 122,900
Other rural land converted to developed land (acres) 6,100 3,600 2,200 28,400
Total surface area (acres) 36,058,700 36,058,700 36,058,700 36,058,700

Census of Agriculture

Data Item 2007 2012 2017
Farms 76,860 75,087 72,651
Land in Farms (acres) 26,775,100 26,937,721 27,006,288
Cropland (acres) 23,707,699 23,752,778 24,003,086
Permanent Pasture and Rangeland (acres) 887,274 873,778 824,196
Woodland (acres) 1,428,922 1,449,212 1,469,302
Land in Buildings (acres) 751,205 861,953 709,704
Total Land Area (acres) 36,058,091 36,058,091 36,058,091
All operators/All producers 111,089 109,123 118,141
All operators/All producers 34 and younger 9,215 9,251 9,858
All operators/All producers 65 and older 26,316 30,579 40,850
All producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 74,134
Principal producers 93,937
Principal producers 34 and younger 7,470
Principal producers 65 and older 34,687
Principal producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 19,803
Principal operators / Primary producers 76,860 75,087 72,651
Principal operators / Primary producers 34 and younger 4,696 5,067 5,248
Principal operators / Primary producers 65 and older 21,237 23,702 27,869
Primary producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 14,284
Market value of agricultural products sold $13,329,107,000 $17,187,052,000 $17,009,971,000
Average market value of agricultural products sold per operation $173,421 $228,895 $234,133
Market value of agricultural products sold directly to consumers $25,893,000 $33,009,000 $44,290,000
Market value of agricultural products sold directly to retail markets, institutions, and food hubs for local or regionally branded products $121,431,000

Notes on Changes to the 2017 Census of Agriculture

  • Producer characteristic data were collected for a maximum of four producers on each farm, up from a maximum of three producers in prior years.
  • Principal producer is a new term that identifies up to two main decision-makers on each farm, up from one principal operator in prior years.
  • Market value of agricultural products sold directly to consumers expanded to include value-added products.
  • Market value of agricultural products sold directly to retail markets, institutions, and food hubs for local or regionally branded products is a new data item.

 


Other Data Sources

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