Illinois wheat production falls

WASHINGTON — Year-over-year winter wheat production declined, while oats were up in Illinois, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual production summary for 2024.

Winter Wheat

The Prairie State saw a 7.66 million bushel decline in winter wheat production from the previous year, down to 60.2 million bushels, averaging 86 bushels per acre across 700,000 harvested acres in 2024.

Illinois averaged 87 bushels per acre on 780,000 harvested acres a year ago for total production of 67.86 million bushels.

Washington County remained the top producer, harvesting 6.579 million bushels with an average of 97 bushels per acre across 67,800 acres.

Randolph County was runner-up in total production with 3.463 million bushels, averaging 90.9 bushels per acre on 38,100 harvested acres.

St. Clair County produced 2.093 million bushels with 25,100 acres averaging 83.4 bushels per acre.

Other counties producing seven-digit winter wheat were Marion, 1.713 million bushels; Wayne, 1.659 million; Franklin, 1.437 million; Madison, 1.43 million; Clay, 1.409 million; and Montgomery, 1.054 million.

The leading average yield was in Bureau County at 117.8 bushels per acre from 3,370 harvested acres, producing 397,000 bushels.

The second highest yield was in Boone County at 113.6 bushels per acre across 2,280 harvested acres for total production of 259,000 bushels.

Winter wheat growers in Ogle County averaged 111.4 bushels per acre with 5,010 harvested acres and total production of 558,000 bushels.

Other counties with triple-digit average yields were Stephenson, 106.1; Carroll, 104.6; Kankakee, 105.9; Kendall, 102.9; Winnebago, 101.3; and Lee, 100.

Oats

Illinois oat growers averaged 93 bushels per acre in 2024 across 17,000 harvested acres for total production of 1.581 million bushels. There were 50,000 planted acres.

The 2023 Illinois oat yield averaged 90 bushels per acre from 17,000 harvested acres, with 55,000 acres planted, for a total production of 1.53 million bushels.

DeKalb County was the leading oats producer in Illinois, harvesting 516,000 bushels from 5,370 acres and averaging 96.1 bushels per acre. There were 10,000 planted acres.

Bureau County oats averaged 119 bushels per acre, producing 75,000 bushels across 630 acres. Carroll averaged 115.1 bushels per acre, with Douglas at 102.7 and Whiteside at 108.

The state’s top eight oat-producing counties are listed in the report. “Other counties” are grouped together with an average 90.1 bushels per acre, 9,410 harvested acres and total production of 847,400.