By Don Guinnip, Clark County Farmer, Member NREC Council

(Originally published in FarmWeek 09/09/2024)

Does the future involve a look back at where we came from? Probably, a good idea.

When I was growing up in South Central, Illinois, a corn-soy-wheat rotation was very common, particularly on livestock farms. As time changed, that rotation slowly and gradually became less popular. Illinois crop production changed and wheat acres were pushed aside for more corn and soybeans. Consolidation, technology and economics directed many producers into strictly corn and beans. Most Illinois wheat is now currently grown south of Illinois Route 16. In 2023, the latest records show just under 800,000 acres harvested.

Why look back? Why talk about wheat? Our 2024 agronomy vocabulary includes soil heath, carbon, regenerative agriculture, water quality, gulf hypoxia, soil loss, erosion, nutrient loss reduction strategy. Couple those terms with economics, especially wheat-double crop soybeans or wheat-legume mix and one has a modern 2024 discussion.

The wheat double crop rotation has shown very good and competitive returns by University of Illinois ag economists. The environmental and soil health benefits of that old corn, soybean, wheat rotation are well worth examining.

Those thoughts set the stage for the current initiative to hold a referendum on a proposed Checkoff. The proposal for 1 ½ cents per bushel to support the wheat industry in Illinois would be refundable and managed by an elected board of nine producers.

The Illinois Wheat Association presently supports itself with dues, contributions from ag business and millers and grants. This method of support is unstable and very time consuming.

My opinion is that, in order for Illinois Wheat to have an effective program of research, promotion and educational outreach, a stable financial base is needed.

The days of a University of Illinois Extension Agent in each county doing these activities are long gone. Research, education and promotion have to become part of our cost of production. One and one-half cents on 100-bushel wheat is $1.50 per acre, a pretty small commitment to support the future of our wheat industry here in Illinois.

Economics are tough in crop production in Illinois as I write this. The cyclical nature of agricultural pro- duction will continue to be a factor to deal with.

But we are in this for the long haul. A sound, farmer directed wheat program is good economically, environmentally, socially and politically.

Take a hard look around your neighborhood to see if the benefits of that third crop in a rotation would lead us towards a more positive agriculture in Illinois.

If you are willing to help, go online to illinoiswheat.org to sign the Wheat Checkoff Petition and advocate in favor of a better future for wheat in Illinois.