Wheat

Why wheat?

If you drive by the farm, this is what you will see right now - these front fields just had soybeans harvested on Thanksgiving, and wheat was planted to be harvested in July.


You might be thinking - what? You planted wheat in November, and it won't be harvested until July? What's the deal with that? 


When the wheat is planted in the Fall, it needs a little moisture and begins to grow. 


Then, the plant stops growing when it is exposed to the colder temperatures of Winter (like we are

experiencing here in Dayton, VA, in mid-December). This process is called vernalization. 

Vernalization must occur for the plant to flower and can only take place during the cold months. 

After the vernalization period, the plant will begin to grow again and flower in the Spring before the ultimate harvest in the Summer. It is time to harvest when there is no green left on the

plant, and the grain has dried down to less than 15%. A combine with a grain head (pictured stored in the barn) is used to harvest our crop. Wheat has one of the longer grain life cycles, but it is ultimately one of the easiest to manage. 


Crop rotation is a natural way of replenishing nutrients in the soil. Planting wheat in the Fall can help lessen erosion from wind and runoff of water to retain the soil. Additionally, it has been

shown that the rotation of wheat and soybeans can naturally reduce pest and disease cycles. 


Also pictured - our parts combine. This machine is the combine we "borrow" parts and pieces

from if our regular combine needs a little TLC. There are a lot of moving parts here on the farm - LITERALLY.