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Southern Illinois farmer happy with winter wheat conditions

A southern Illinois farmer says his winter wheat crop looks good despite drastic temperature swings this winter.

Mark Krausz of New Baden in Clinton County tells Brownfield he’s not certain the crop ever went into dormancy, so he got concerned when temperatures dropped below freezing in mid-March.

“I was for sure out of dormancy when it was greening up and we have had some 20 and 21 degree mornings.”

But since then, Krausz says he has scouted fields and the crop looks above average.

“It’s got a good stand and some great tillers. Our counts are good for a full crop, a bumper crop actually.”

A broader look at Illinois winter wheat conditions will be highlighted in the USDA’s weekly Crop Progress and Condition Reports that resume in April and during the Illinois Wheat Association’s annual plot tour in May.