Illinois was the No. 1 soybean producer in the U.S. in 2025. That came amid soaring input costs and despite historic drought conditions in the state.
Soybean producers grew 638 million bushels of soybeans last year. A bushel weighs 60 pounds.
Production has steadily grown over the past 10 years. District 1 director of the Illinois Soybean Association, Ryan Frieders, said Midwest farmers are blessed with productive soils and pretty good weather overall.
“Farmers have a sense of pride in the things that they grow,” he said. "When they put in a lot of work and sweat and tears and then have a good product in the end, it's something to be proud of."
Frieders is also a soybean farmer.
Trade relations with other countries were tense last year, but Frieders said he is hopeful the U.S. will continue negotiating new trade agreements.
He said that with input costs rising, it's more important than ever for farmers to be mindful of how they use resources without compromising yields.
"Soybeans in general are very important, not just to Illinois, but also to the U.S. economy," he said. "Soybeans are the largest agricultural export in the nation.”
Illinois broke records in 2024, producing 688 million bushels of soybeans.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
