Agriculture Fuels Illinois’s Economy
July 11, 2024

Agriculture is a main driver in Illinois’s economy. The state’s prime farmland, its proximity to top tier manufacturing, and its expansive river and rail infrastructure creates a vibrant space for financial capacities.
Ranking second in corn production, Illinois’s golden commodity has much to offer its state.
- Illinois is ranked fifth nationally in overall agricultural production.
- In Illinois, over 11M acres of corn were harvested in Illinois in 2023.
- 1.9 M jobs in Illinois are from the agricultural industry.
- Illinois ships 1/3, or approximately 18 million metric tons, of U.S. corn to foreign markets every year. This is approximately 116% of Japan’s total imports of corn in the 23/24 marketing year.
- Illinois exported $78.7 billion in international sales.
- 1 out of 10 dollars generated in the state comes from agriculture.
- Illinois food and agribusiness account for more than $462 Billion in economic output for the state.
- Overall, corn growers were responsible for a $151 billion boost to the U.S. economy in 2023, reports National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Lead Economist Krista Swanson.
- NCGA reports Illinois corn farming contributed over $20.9M to United States economy.

By Lindsay Croke
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June 30, 2025
When we think of Independence Day traditions, sweet corn on the cob is as iconic as fireworks and often even more central to the celebration. According to Instacart, purchases of sweet corn surge by 380% over the annual average heading into July 4th, outranking other grilling staples like baby back ribs and burgers. But corn's role in your Fourth of July celebration goes far beyond your plate. In Illinois alone, 8,300 acres of sweet corn are harvested annually, averaging 155 cwt per acre. That’s more than 128 million pounds of locally grown sweetness fueling summer cookouts across the state. And while sweet corn makes a big impression on the grill, most of Illinois’ corn crop isn’t sweet corn - it’s field corn. Less than 1% of the state’s crop is sweet corn, while the rest is used in products that are often invisible to consumers but vital to everyday life: fuel, packaging, fireworks, and even spirits.