Illinois wheat producers have set new yield records despite the impact of hot weather conditions. The recent crop tour conducted by the Illinois Wheat Association revealed average wheat yields of approximately 97 bushels per acre, surpassing last year's 79 bushels per acre.
This increase in wheat production coincides with the planting of an additional one million acres of wheat across the Midwest. The disruption of global grain shipments due to the Ukraine invasion prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand insurance coverage for farmers growing two crops on the same land, resulting in a 41% increase in total planted acres compared to the previous year.
As a result, Illinois could potentially move from the sixth-ranking to the fourth-ranking wheat producer in the country. Predictions suggest that Illinois is on track to achieve its largest wheat crop since 2008.