What Is Going on With Illinois Winter Wheat?

According to the USDA Crop Progress report released Monday, Illinois’ winter wheat progress is ahead of the normal pace, and the majority of the crop was rated good. Here’s a closer look at the numbers and some perspective from an agronomist.

Progress

Winter wheat planting in Illinois reached 98% the week ending Nov. 17. Farmers took advantage of 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork — up from just 3.7 the week prior – to move progress along by 2 percentage points for the week. With that, planting is just ahead of progress last year at this time (97%) and the five-year average (96%).

Wyffels Agronomy Manager Ryan Gentle, based in Marietta, Illinois, said that his area of the state is done with planting. “I have started to see some fields emerging after the rain,” he added. 

Emergence overall in Illinois increased six percentage points the week ending Nov. 17 to reach 89%. That’s on track with last year at this time and ahead of the five-year average of 83%. 

Syngenta Agronomist Phil Krieg said emergence varies in his area. “Dry weather at planting time resulted in uneven emergence,” he said, adding, “Warm temperatures and lots of rain should allow those late emerging areas to fill in, but fall tillering may be held back.” Krieg said the late emerging areas can be expected to have uneven heading in the spring.

Condition

Of the top 18 winter-wheat-growing states, Illinois had nearly the highest percentage rated good/excellent. It ranked second behind California for that combined percentage. Overall, USDA rated Illinois’ winter wheat 2% very poor, 3% poor, 20% fair, 72% good, and 3% excellent.

Topsoil moisture supplies are in mostly good shape for the crop to continue thriving. USDA rated the state’s topsoil moisture condition 4% very short, 18% short, 69% adequate, and 9% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies leaned more toward short, rating 5% very short, 41% short, 50% adequate, and 4% surplus.