New Study Ranks Illinois as #1 in Total Economic Output in the U.S.

Aug 08, 2024

Corn farming is one of the largest sectors in American agriculture. The nation’s corn farmers bolster the economy and help build strong communities. There are firms in 524 industry sectors across all 50 states and the District of Columbia with linkages to corn grain farming.

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In 2023, Illinois farmers produced 2.27 billion bushels of corn, slightly up from the previous year, with an average yield of 206 bushels per acre. While Illinois ranks number two in corn production, it is number one in total economic output contribution due to corn farming, along with its upstream supply chain and household linkages.

Why is Being #1 in Economic Output So Important?

Being number one in economic output means:

More jobs
A stronger economy
Global influence
Technological advancements
Thriving communities
Better environmental practices

Just like a winning team brings pride and benefits to its supporters, Illinois’s success in corn farming brings significant advantages to the state and its residents.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.