Local Media Invited to Witness Wheat Harvest

(THOSE GATHERED FOR MONDAY'S WHEAT HARVEST TOUR WERE {l-r} TRACY HEUERMAN, KENT MELLENDORF, JOHN BECKMAN, JULIE STEPHENS AND JOE THOELE)

Many people are familiar with Illinois in general and Effingham County in particular as a site for corn and soybean production.

Perhaps many are not aware that the county is a good location for production of wheat, especially soft red winter wheat. It's winter wheat because that's when it's planted. Harvest is underway and wheat farmers are not among those hoping for a shower. That, they say, can wait until after harvest.

(THE COMBINE USED BY MELLENDORF MONDAY IS PRETTY HIGH TECH. IT MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF WHEAT HARVESTED, BUT ALSO THE MOISTURE LEVEL AND A VARIETY OF OTHER RESOURCES)

Effingham County Farm Bureau invited the media to drop by a field farmed by Kent Mellendorf, south and west of Dieterich, Monday morning to make a pass through the field to get an idea of what's involved in harvesting wheat.

Farm Bureau Manager Julie Stephens was on hand, along with Mellendorf and his daughter, Tracy Heuerman who works for Growmark. Also present were Farm Bureau members Joe Thoele and John Beckman.

Much of the wheat produced in the county is processed by Siemer Milling Company in Teutopolis, known nationwide for a variety of baking products. The wheat production is a benefit to farmers who want to produce a second crop in a year. Those who are harvesting wheat now will soon be ready to get a crop of soybeans in the ground.