Illinois Farmers Have Reason For Optimism Heading Into 2021 Planting Season

By Tim Shelly

Peoria-area farmers have reason to head into the 2021 planting season with a positive outlook.

That's according to Peoria County Farm Bureau Manager Patrick Kirchhoffer.

"Farmers are much more optimistic heading into this planting season, just for the fact that prices are very good," Kirchhoffer said.

Kirchhoffer said corn is currently fetching over $5 per bushel, and soybeans are going for around $13 a bushel.

He says that's mainly due to record high demand, particularly from China.

"China, they're just buying record amounts of soybeans and corn," he said. "And they've been a very big exporter of our products, in terms of increasing the price."