MT. VERNON, Ill. — For growers who believe world-record wheat yields are possible on land throughout Illinois – the second-highest producing soybean state in the United States – agronomist Steve Ebelher has some sound financial advice.

Not only are such yields unlikely from soil in the Land of Lincoln, “It’s just not financially advisable,” he told nearly 200 people attending the Illinois Wheat Assoc. (IWA) annual forum in southern Illinois.

The world-record wheat yield is from Mike Solari’s farm in Otama, New Zealand, Ebelher explained. He produced a yield of 232 bushels per acre in 2011. The crop was obtained with 12 plants per square foot and produced 2,880 kernels per square foot. Plants had an average of 60 kernels per head.

For starters, Ebelher said, growers in Illinois typically average about six plants per square foot for wheat, and plants generally have about half the number of kernels per head – no matter the amount of inputs and insecticides used.

Based on test results he oversaw at six separate test sites throughout the state during the past five years, growers anywhere in Illinois right now could not replicate yield results close to world records – and nor would they want to.

“The bottom line is that in Illinois, we tend to have too much rainfall at the wrong times and temperatures that aren’t warm enough at the wrong times,” Ebelher said. “Mother Nature always trumps everything.”

But it was worth trying to shoot for the highest-possible yields to know what it could take to get close, he said. “Did we get an economical response to the tests we did? No, and I hope you all take that message home with you,” he explained.

By economical response, Ebelher explained for the amount of inputs in Otama – three separate nitrogen applications were made during the season, for instance – along with the amount of fungicides and insecticides used, similar amounts for Illinois acreage did not produce similar yield numbers as in New Zealand.

While in some instances average yields were increased from 6-12 bushels per acre, it didn’t justify the cost upfront. High yields varied at the sites, at Dixon Springs in southern Illinois to Urbana in central Illinois to DeKalb in northern Illinois, from 90 bushels per acre in southern Illinois up to nearly 130 bushels per acre in central.

Average yields throughout the state last year were about 63 bushels per acre.  “Find the variety that works best for your part of the state, and use the amount of inputs that work well for the field where it’s located. Every field has its own characteristics,” Ebelher said.

“Chasing record yields, like fantasy football, picking Powerball winners and believing in Santa Claus, can be fun, but not likely to be profitable.”

Interest in wheat among growers has continued to grow during the past several years, despite chaotic weather conditions during the flood of 2011 and drought from 2012. Wheat yields in the state were up by about two bushels per acre last year, despite the dry conditions, noted Steve Stallman, president of the IWA.

“There is increased interest in wheat,” he said. “Last year it was the bright spot of crops, especially in southern Illinois, given the state of corn and bean results.”

Winter wheat growers in Illinois planted about 830,000 acres last fall, up by some 26 percent over the fall of 2011.