Illinois leads in pumpkin production

Illinois is still the leader when it comes to pumpkin production.

USDA’s annual vegetable report indicated nearly 18,000 acres were planted with pumpkins last year in Illinois, the most of any state. Of those pumpkins grown, 97 percent were used for processing. In other crops, Illinois farmers planted 6500 acres of sweet corn in 2022.

Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener reports Illinois farmers planted 11,200 acres of snap beans last year. That is down 22 percent from the previous year.