Gale Group WorldMark Encyclopedia of the States 7th Vol 1 (Alabama-Montana) by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Reference
Published: 2011-01-19T06:00:00+00:00

Illinois

251

Teamsters, the United Steelworkers of America, the International Agriculture is big business in the state, though very few farms Association of Machinists, the United Automobile Workers, the are owned by corporations (except “family corporations,” a tax de-United Brotherhood of Carpenters, and the American Federation vice). Th

e fi nancial investment in agriculture is enormous, largely

of State, County, and Municipal Employees. Th

e Illinois Educa-

because of the accelerating cost of land. Th

e value of land quadru-

tion Association, though not strictly a labor union, has become pled during the 1970s to an average of $2,013 per acre in 1980, fell one of the state’s most militant employee organizations, oft en call-to $1,536 per acre by 1992, but rose to $2,210 by 1997 and $2,610

ing strikes and constituting the most active lobby in the state. In by 2004.

1983, a new law granted all public employees except police and 2 4

fi remen the right to strike.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Th

e BLS reported that in 2005, a total of 927,000 of the state’s Livestock is raised almost everywhere in Illinois, but production 5,473,000 employed wage and salary workers were formal mem-is concentrated especially in the west-central region. In 2005, Ilbers of a union. Th

is represented 16.9% of those so employed, up

linois farms had an estimated 1.38 million cattle and calves worth from 16.8% in 2004 and above the national average of 12%. Over-around $1.1 billion. Illinois farms had an estimated 4 million hogs all in 2005, a total of 965,000 workers (17.6%) in Illinois were cov-and pigs in 2004, worth around $400 million. Th

e Dairy Belt cov-

ered by a union or employee association contract, which includes ers part of northern Illinois. Milk production in 2003 totaled an those workers who reported no union affi

liation. Illinois is one of

estimated 2 billion lb (0.9 billion kg). During 2003, Illinois poultry 28 states that does not have a right-to-work law.

farmers sold an estimated 7.1 million lb (3.2 million kg) of chickAs of 1 March 2006, Illinois had a state-mandated minimum

en. An estimated 973 million eggs were produced in 2003, worth wage of $6.50 per hour. In 2004, women in the state accounted for around $51 million.

46.5% of the employed civilian labor force.

2 5 FISHING

2 3 AGRICULTURE

Commercial fi shing is relatively insignifi cant in Illinois. Sport fi sh-Total agricultural income in 2005 reached $8.7 billion in Illinois, ing is of modest importance in southern Illinois and around Lake Michigan. Some 450 lakes and ponds and 200 streams and rivers ranking the state seventh in the nation. Crops accounted for near-are open to the public. In 2004, there were 713,120 sport anglers ly 79% of the value of farm marketings, with corn and soybeans as licensed in Illinois. Th

e state Division of Fisheries operates four

the leading cash commodities.

fi sh hatcheries, producing more than 50 million fi sh of 18 species Prior to 1860, agriculture was the dominant occupation, and

for stocking Illinois waters. In 2004, Illinois had 18 catfi sh farms food for home consumption was the leading product. Enormous

covering 320 acres (130 hectares).

eff ort was devoted to breaking the thick prairie soil in the northern two-thirds of the state.

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