The Illinois Winter Wheat Tour, sponsored by the Illinois Wheat Association recently scouted more than 30 fields across Illinois and predicted an average yield at 48.2 bushels per acre.

 

Some farmers in south-western Illinois reported yields in the 30-50 bushel range but farmers in the south-eastern part of the state fared a little better. Dave Devore with Siemer Milling Company in Teutopolis said average yields will be in the 50 bushel range. "Typically, Illinois has yielded 60-65 bushels an acre," he said. "Our 51 bushel an acre yield is quite a bit below average."

 

Devore said compounding the low-yield problems, farmers were not able to plant a lot due to poor weather during the planting months - resulting in a record low acreage count. "It was extremely wet last fall and farmers couldn't get beans out in a timely manner," he said. "This was the lowest recorded acreage in history - 350,000 acres."