The USDA in a report Friday projected that Illinois farmers will harvest 2.11 billion bushels of corn this year. That's about 80 million more than the agency predicted in its last report a month ago.

Similarly, the USDA now expects Illinois to harvest 411.8 million bushels of soybeans, up from the 375.9 million predicted in September.

The report raised expectations for the nation's corn and soybean crops, too. The USDA now expects 12.2 billion bushels for corn, up from 12.1 billion, and 2.98 billion bushels of soybeans, up from 2.93 billion.

Illinois is the nation's second largest producer of both crops. Harvest of both is just beginning.