VANDALIA — Danny Rubin was one of the first in line when farmers in Illinois began experimenting with intensive wheat management.
He has never looked back.
The Fayette County farmer has put up some impressive yields in recent years, enough in 2023 to take the top spot in the Illinois Wheat Association’s annual yield contest.
“I joined the wheat association early on and got more interested in (intensive management techniques) after that,” he said. “I started trying different things. I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Last year he recorded a yield of 144.49 bushels per acre, good for first place. The accomplishment is even more impressive given that the contest rules require a minimum of just 2.5 acres but Rubin made an entire 29-acre field his contest entry.
Acres on the rise
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Wheat acreage in Illinois has had its ups and downs over the decades.
Farmers planted the crop on more than 1.5 million acres years ago, but low prices and disease pressure drove many away from wheat, nearly all of which is doubled-cropped with soybeans or corn.
Planting has been on an upswing recently. Illinois acreage increased from 650,000 in 2022 to 840,00 last year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
One reason is likely better yields generally, as more farmers have embraced intensive management and improved varieties have boosted profits. Statewide, yields have averaged near 70 bushels per acre in recent years.
Rather than a plant-it-and-forget-it mentality that had sometimes been in play in years past, many farmers are now paying more attention — and investing more money — in their wheat crops.
Intensive management involves a host of practices including split fertilization, fungicide application and scouting for insects and diseases.
“We’ve always grown wheat, but I didn’t do the intensive part until 2005 or 2006,” Rubin said.
He farms with his two brothers, Tom and Andy Rubin. His son, Justin, works off the farm but also helps out.
Other than wheat, the family grows corn and soybeans. They also have feeder cattle. Wheat averages 550 to 600 acres each year.
Optimal planting window
Rubin likes to plant his wheat after the fly-free date (early October for his area). That is not necessarily to avoid damage from hatching Hessian flies; he also doesn’t like to get too much growth from wheat in the fall.
He always plants as a double crop with soybeans.
“I know a lot of people are doing it after corn, but I’ve had a harder time getting good yields after corn,” he said.
“It’s easier to get a good stand rather than fighting all the corn stalks. You don’t have as much residue to deal with,” he added.
One management practice that has helped is split application of nitrogen. He applies some during planting then splits it in the spring.
“I generally put about 40% on during my first pass, which is hopefully in February when the ground is frozen,” Rubin said.
“That’s not going to work out this year. We’ll just see when we can get to the field in March, then decide. But normally, the first half goes on in February and I’ll wait until the first of April to put the remainder on,” he added.
Like many wheat growers, he also applies fungicides, experimenting with different types and application dates.
“We use a lot of fungicides. I’ve been experimenting with different foliars," he said, referring to a type of application that takes places directly on a plant's leaves. "I think they help, but I don’t have a favorite one."
"I’ve been trying different things. I put two fungicides on almost no matter what, whether I think we’ll have disease or not. I usually find a way to get it on.”
Boosting yields
Rubin, who has been involved with the Illinois Wheat Association since its early days, credits educational opportunities offered by the association for helping him achieve higher yields.
Consultants in the Kentucky-based firm Wheat Tech and others have for years promoted intensive management.
In the past, he was happy with yields of 60 to 70 bushels. Then the introduction of new practices quickly boosted the crop.
“I don’t know exactly what year it was, but I was so excited when we hit 100 that first time,” he said. “Now, for the most part, we’ve been able to get 100 on at least one field through the years. It’s not that hard to get it anymore unless something goes wrong.”
Last year was one of those seasons.
“In mid-May about a third of our crop got a pretty good hailstorm,” Rubin said. “If you don’t count that wheat, we would have averaged 128 to 130 bushels, but the hail knocked our average down.”
High-yielding wheat begins before planting, by choosing the right variety, of course. Rubin also takes care in planting.
“It takes a combination of things, from a good seedbed to spreading fertilizer evenly,” he said. “And spreading the residue evenly, that’s also important.”
He’s happy to share some of his tips with his neighbors but doesn’t disclose everything.
“I can’t give away all my secrets,” Rubin said. “I have to keep a little on my own.”