Harvest Winding Down on Record Wheat Crop

(PHOTO COURTESY OF BARRY EAKLE, PLATINUM AG GROUP IN VERMILION COUNTY)

BY DANIEL GRANT, FARMWEEK

The majority of a record-breaking winter wheat crop is in the bin statewide as farmers made a final harvest push the first half of July, particularly in northern Illinois.

Farmers harvested 88% of wheat across the state as of July 10, the National Agricultural Statistics Service Illinois field office reported. That’s even with the five-year average and just three points off last year’s pace.

“Harvest is complete in our area and we’ve got double-crop beans planted,” Kyle Brase, a Madison County wheat grower, told FarmWeek.

Despite some recent rain delays, farmers managed to harvest 75% of the wheat crop in a span of three weeks (June 19 to July 10).

Much of the remaining wheat activity is concentrated in the northern half of the state, as is typical for this time of year.

“We just got started (with wheat harvest) yesterday (July 10),” Garrison Govig, who farms with his father, Jim, in DeKalb and Lee counties, told FarmWeek. “I’d say it’s OK so far. I think the test weights are decent.”

Brase reported good yields and test weights in his area as well. Overall, USDA estimated an average wheat yield in Illinois this season of 84 bushels per acre, which would surpass last year's record by 5 bushels. Total wheat production in the state was pegged this month at 65.5 million bushels, up 48% from 2022.

“It was better than expected,” Brase said of the recently harvested wheat.

“We weren’t sure how much the frost damage would hurt us,” he noted. “Another unknown was the drought and if it would take anything from fields on lighter soil. But, for the most part, we had good yields and good quality.”

Chad Bell, Mercer County Farm Bureau president, started growing wheat on his farm four years ago and wrapped up his best harvest July 11.

"Harvest went well (on 24 acres)," Bell said. "A rough estimate of 110 bushels (per acre) was 20 bushels better than the best I have grown prior," to this season.

The development of drought in May and June created major concerns about the planting of double-crop beans behind wheat. Many farmers went ahead and planted in the dust and fortunately received timely rainfall in recent weeks.

“God has a funny way of making it all even out,” Brase said. “We got the beans in just in time (ahead of some much-needed showers). We’re not long on moisture by any means, but the beans are up and growing.”

Kevin Raber, a FarmWeek CropWatcher from Wabash County, reported a similar situation in his area.

“Rains have double-crop beans off to a good start,” he said.

Illinois farmers also completed 67% of the second cutting of alfalfa as of July 10, which was 13 points ahead of the average pace, while 3% of the third cutting was in the books as well.