Ag Facts

Prime Farmland

• Illinois cropland, 24 million acres, is fifth largest in the U.S.
• Prime farmland in Illinois is 21 million acres. Third in the nation after Texas and Kansas.

Source: Robert McLeese, State Soil Scientist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Champaign, IL, 2000

Illinois Farms

• Total surface area of Illinois is 36,060,800 acres.
• Number of Illinois farms is 73,051.
  
• Average size of farms is 372 acres.
• Median size of farms is 180 acres.

Source: Robert McLeese, State Soil Scientist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Champaign, IL, 2000

Horses in Illinois

• Illinois has around 77,000 horse owners.
• Approximately 350,000 people in Illinois ride horses on a regular basis.
• Illinois horses consume 500,000 tons of hay and grain worth nearly $100 million annually.

Source: Dr. Kevin Kline, Extension Specialist - Equine, University of Illinois