Illinois raises a LOT of corn and soybeans, but the cost of diesel, farm equipment, etc. sucks all of the profits from the farmers.
A person can judge the condition of a state by the condition of its highways and roads. POTHOLES everywhere.
Yep, farming is (and has been for decades) a small profit margin business. I lived it. Get bigger or get out of that career. I got out. The real estate taxes the farmland owners pay is enormous.
I certainly know the roads of IL are bad. I lived in Mercer county IL for 62 1/2 years. Left at the end of 2016. My youngest brother works for IDOT, filling holes is only interrupted by plowing snow or mowing roadsides, but they can’t keep up with decay.