McLean County holds the 2006 title as the major grain producing county in Illinois. The central Illinois county was tops in the production of both corn and soybeans last year, according to recently released harvest figures by the National Agricultural Statistics Service-Illinois Field Office.

Here's a look at the top six corn producing counties in Illinois last year: McLean, 61.44 million bushels; Iroquois, 54.98 million bushels; La Salle, 53.49 million bushels; Livingston, 51.37 million bushels; Champaign, 50.06 million bushels; and Bureau, 47.63 million bushels.

The top six soybean producing counties in Illinois last year include: McLean, 14.86 million bushels; Livingston, 14.29 million bushels; Iroquois, 13.59 million bushels; Champaign, 13.47 million bushels; LaSalle, 12.35 million bushels; and Vermilion, 11.18 million bushels.

Northern Illinois had the best corn yields last year, averaging 176 bushels per acre, followed by central Illinois at 175 bushels. Lee County had the best average corn yields at 188 bushels per acre, followed by Carroll at 185 bushels; Kendall at 184 bushels La Salle, Piatt and McLean counties at 182 bushels; and De Kalb and Putnam counties at 181 bushels.

Central Illinois had the best soybean yields last year, averaging 53 bushels per acre. Carroll County had the best average bean yields at 58 bushels per acre, followed by Macon County at 56 bushels; and Stephenson, Piatt, Champaign, Woodford and Stephenson counties at 55 bushels.