By Bradley Zwilling
In 2025, the total of all economic costs per acre for growing corn in Illinois averaged $1,190 in the northern section, $1,216 in the central section for farmland with “high” soil ratings, $1,170 in the central section for farmland with “low” soil ratings, and $1,117 in the southern section. Soybean costs per acre were $874, $910, $857 and $820, respectively (see Table 1). Costs were lower in southern Illinois primarily because of lower land costs. The total of all economic costs per bushel in the different sections of the state ranged from $4.98 to $6.50 for corn and from $12.07 to $16.09 for soybeans. Variations in these costs were related to weather, yields, and land quality.
These figures were obtained from farm business records kept by farmers enrolled in the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association. The samples included only farms with more than 500 acres of productive and nearly level soils in each area of the state; these are farms without livestock. Farms located in the 22 counties north and northwest of the Illinois River are included in the sample for northern Illinois. Farms from 36 counties below a line from about Mattoon to Alton are in the sample for southern Illinois. The remaining 44 counties make up the sample for central Illinois. The sample farms averaged 1,661 tillable acres in northern Illinois, 1,622 acres in the central section with high soil ratings, 1,660 acres in the central section with lower soil ratings, and 1,777 acres in southern Illinois.
Cost of Production for Corn Compared to 2024
Costs per bushel of corn in 2025 as compared to 2024 were lower in all regions of the state, except southern Illinois. Costs per bushel were lower due to less nonland interest and land costs. Costs per bushel were 11 cents lower in northern Illinois, 10 cents lower in central Illinois with the higher rated soils, 15 cents lower in central Illinois with lower rated soils and 64 cents higher in southern Illinois.
The average corn yield in 2025 was 2 bushels per acre higher than in 2024 in northern Illinois, 2 to 3 bushels lower in central Illinois and 25 bushels lower than in southern Illinois. The 2025 average corn yield in the different geographical locations ranged from 21 bushel lower to 10 bushels per acre higher than the five-year average from 2021 to 2025.
Costs per acre for corn were lower in all the different geographic regions in Illinois compared to 2024. Across the state, total costs per acre to produce corn decreased from 1 to 4 percent. The non-land interest charge decreased the most statewide.
Cost of Production for Soybeans Compared to 2024
Production costs per bushel of soybeans in 2025 in Illinois compared to 2024 decreased across the state except for southern Illinois due to lower yields. Costs per bushel decreased due to yields staying similar to 2024, but with the same cost decreasing as for corn. Soybean yields ranged from 5 bushels less to 3 bushels per acre higher in 2025 compared to 2024. Changes in costs per bushel ranged from 78 cents lower in northern Illinois to 68 cents higher in southern Illinois.
Total costs per acre for soybeans decreased in Illinois when compared to 2024. Costs decreased $16 per acre in northern Illinois, $21 per acre in central Illinois with the higher rated soils, $28 per acre in central Illinois with the lower rated soils and $43 per acre in southern Illinois when compared to 2024. Average soybean yields in the different areas ranged from 7 bushels lower to 4 bushels higher per acre when compared to the five-year average from 2021 to 2025.
Source : illinois.edu