Record Wheat Yields; Eight Illinois Counties Average 90-Plus Bushels

BY DAN GRANT

Many farmers were pleased with their wheat yields in Illinois last season.

However, few expected a record-breaking year after heavy spring rains saturated the crop during key growth stages.

But that’s exactly what happened as Illinois wheat growers averaged 76 bushels per acre in 2017, which beat the previous year’s record by 2 bushels.

“That was kind of a surprise to set another record,” said John Ernst, a wheat grower from Alhambra (Madison County) and president of the Illinois Wheat Association.

“We had favorable grain fill and a long grain-fill period,” he noted. “I think the seeds per pound is what contributed to the high yields.”

Dave Devore, of Siemer Milling in Teutopolis (Effingham County), reported test weights during harvest in his area were 59 to 62-plus pounds.

“Yields were very good. Quality was excellent,” Devore said. “I’m a little surprised by that.”

Illinois wheat yields from 1995-2017 increased at a rate of about 0.9 of a bushel per year, according to Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois Extension agronomist.

But few expected the 2017 state yield to break the 2016 record by 2 bushels.

“We had our second excellent wheat crop (in as many years) in Illinois for both quality and yield,” Nafziger said. “Heading started about as early as we’ve ever seen it.”

A whopping 24 counties in the state averaged 80-plus bushels per acre last season, including eight counties that averaged 90 or more bushels per acre, led by Ogle County (98.3 bushels).

DeKalb (96.1 bushels), Stephenson (96), Knox (94.9) and Wabash (93.3) rounded out the top five counties for wheat yields.

The top wheat-producing counties once again are situated in the state’s “wheat belt” across the southern portion of the state. Washington County led the way in wheat production statewide last season at 3.9 million bushels.

Randolph (2.38 million bushels), Clinton (1.88 million), Monroe (1.52 million) and St. Clair (1.14 million) rounded out the top five counties for total wheat production in 2017.

Overall, Illinois farmers last season planted a half-million acres of wheat and harvested 470,000 acres. Wheat production totaled 35.72 million bushels in the state, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service winter wheat county estimates report released last month.