CAN 1988 DROUGHT YIELDS OCCUR AGAIN IN NORTHERN
AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS?
Questions have been raised whether widespread
low yields have been eliminated in northern and central Illinois. It has been
suggested that a drought in 2003 would not cause yields to decline as much as
happened during the 1988 drought. Arguments include the fact that corn hybrids
and soybean varieties have improved and can now withstand more adverse conditions.
Within recent years, county yields in northern and central Illinois have been
relatively stable, suggesting that low yields are less likely to occur. In addition,
some areas in northern and central Illinois had low rainfall in 2002. In many
of these areas, yields were only slightly below average suggesting that yields
have become less sensitive to adverse weather.
Counterpoints to the above
arguments include the low yields that occurred in many parts of southern Illinois
in 2002. Some parts of central Illinois in Macon, Piatt, and southern McLean Counties
also had below average yields. In my opinion, one of the best counterpoints is
what happened to 2002 yields in Ohio. Ohio had a widespread drought in 2002 that
resulted in an average corn yield of 88 bu. per acre, down by 58 bu. from the
year before. Below a comparison is made between county yields in Champaign County,
Illinois and Champaign County, Ohio, two counties that are large corn and soybean
Champaign County, Illinois and Ohio
County, Ohio is located in west-central Ohio. It is one county north of Interstate
70 which runs between Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio. This places Champaign County,
Ohio and Champaign County, Illinois on about the same longitude. In term of weather,
Champaign County, Ohio has slightly more rainfall and slightly lower temperatures
during the summer when compared to Champaign County, Illinois.
and 2001, the average county yield in Champaign County, Ohio was 135 bu. per acre
compared to 146 bu. per acre in Champaign County, Illinois (see Figure 1). Overall,
average soil productivity is higher in Champaign County, Illinois causing the
Illinois County to have an 11 bu. higher yield. Between 1997 and 2001, however,
the two counties had roughly the same yields with Champaign County, Ohio averaging
146 bu. compared to 148 bu. for Champaign County, Illinois.
to 2002, objective measures would suggest that Champaign County, Ohio had lower
variability than Champaign County, Illinois. The standard deviation - a measure
of dispersion - for Champaign County, Ohio was 21 using data from 1972 to 2001
compared to 24 for Champaign County, Illinois.
In summary, an analysis of
corn yields prior to 2001 would suggest that Champaign County, Ohio is less productive
than Champaign County, Illinois. Some individuals might have suggested that Champaign
County, Ohio was catching up with Champaign County, Illinois, given
similarity in yields between 1997 and 2002 (see Figure 1). Overall, yields between
1972 through 2001 were less variable in the Ohio County compared to the Illinois
The 2002 yield in Champaign County, Ohio
was 77 bu. per acre. By any measure, the 2002 yield was a disaster for the Ohio
County. The 2002 yield was 77 bu. below the County's 2001 yield. Since 1972, Champaign
County, Ohio's yield was lower only in one year: 70 bu. in 1983 (see Figure 1).
The 2002 County yield was 47 percent below its five-year average yield, its highest
percentage decline in the period shown in Figure 1. The next highest percentage
from its five-year average yield occurred in 1983 and was 38 percent.
In terms of percent decline from its five-year average yield, Champaign
County, Illinois has not had as large a percent decline as did Champaign
County, Ohio. Its largest percentage decline occurred in 1980. In
that year, Champaign County, Illinois' yield was 38 percent below
the five-year average yield, exactly the same percent decline as
Champaign County, Ohio's highest decline prior to 2002.
Farmers in Champaign County,
Ohio and Champaign County, Illinois plant hybrids with the same genetic potential.
Yields in Champaign County, Ohio were low because of low rainfall and high temperatures.
As shown in Table 1, low yields in either county tend to occur when rainfall is
lower than average and temperatures are higher than average during the summer
Soybeans in Champaign County, Ohio also had a large yield decline
in 2002. The County average yield was 25 bu. per acre, down by 42 percent from
its five-year average yield of 44 bu. per acre. This suggests that soybeans -
like corn - can be adversely affected by poor weather.
has a large impact on yields. A drought in northern and central Illinois will
cause significant yield declines. Given evidence from Ohio, these yield declines
could be as large or larger in percentage terms than those that occurred in the
It is likely that hybrids from prior years would perform worse
in a drought. For example, Champaign County, Ohio's yield could have been lower
in 2002 if 1988 hybrids had been used in 2002. However, the cost structure in
2003, as reflected in cash rents, is based on higher expected yields. Hence, a
large percent decline in 2003 is likely to have the same impact on financial structure
as a similar percent decline ten years ago.
Often, individuals place too
much weight on current years when judging the probability of adverse events. Recently,
northern and central Illinois have not seen large yield declines. It is likely
that this is more a matter of chance than a change in the probabilities of low
Issued by: Gary
Schnitkey, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics