Illinois Corn Growers Association Executive Director Rodney Weinzierl issued the following statement after USDA's release of their acreage estimate updates today :

“IL Corn does not have an in-house methodology to either confirm or contradict the NASS estimates. So minus the opportunity to consult a crystal ball, we’re in this just like everybody else and we won’t know what 2019 corn production is until it’s in the bin and reported by farmers.

“There does seem to be a disconnect somewhere because the NASS acreage estimate for corn planted in Illinois is higher than what our farmer-members are telling us is out there, and higher than the numbers that are being shared anecdotally by crop insurance agents.

“A year like 2019 is a test for everybody in agriculture, including the NASS survey procedures. It may be time to consider the NASS methodology and timing so that the most accurate information is available to farmers, our customers here and abroad, policy makers, and other interested stakeholders.”