SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Field Office of NASS released the USDA’s October Crop Production Report Oct. 1.

As of Oct. 1, the corn for grain yield in Illinois was estimated at 98 bushels per acre, down 12 bushels from the Sept. 1 forecast. Production would be 1.22 billion bushels, 38 percent less than last year’s crop. As of Sept. 30, 71 percent of the crop was harvested, which compares to 29 percent last year at that time, and a five-year average of 33 percent. Acres planted and harvested were each updated, based on administrative data, down to 12.8 million and 12.4 million. These are both decreases of 200,000 acres from the previous month.

The Oct. 1 forecast yield for soybeans in Illinois was estimated at 39 bushels per acre, two bushels above the Sept. 1 estimate. Production is expected to total 343.2 million bushels, down 19 percent from last year. As of Sept. 30, 22 percent of the crop had been harvested compared to 10 percent last year and the five-year average of 21 percent. The new acreage estimates are up 450 thousand from last month.