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Illinois wheat growers report big yields, good quality as harvest nears completion

The president of the Illinois Wheat Association says it’s been another bumper crop for most of the state’s growers.

Tracey Heuerman, who farms in Effingahm County, says the majority of the state’s winter wheat harvest is complete.

“Overall, yields have been great.”  She says, “Some of the better yields that growers have seen over the past few years. A lot of those 90, 100 plus type field and farm averages. So very, very pleased. Very little issues with quality.”

She tells Brownfield the rainy spring had many concerned about potential disease pressure, however most growers say it never materialized.

“Wheat in general was a little ahead, so that may have helped us out with maybe some of the lower disease pressures.”  She says, “That’s been the most surprising is even as we’ve gotten here kind of late, the quality is staying up pretty decent.”

Heuerman says the wide use of fungicides also helped protect yields this season.

As of July 13^th, the USDA reported the Illinois wheat crop was 88% harvested.

AUDIO: Tracy Heuerman – Illinois Wheat Association