Cutting Wheat

I have helped cut a lot of wheat in my years but many of you could teach me so much more.  I saw this video on Farms.com and thought of wheat harvest.

This video was shot recently in Kentucky and shows 11 combines harvesting wheat on one farm.  We produce soft red winter wheat in this region that is destined for cookies and crackers.  I have had two combines harvesting on one farm but never 11 combines.

Wheat was the staple food for centuries, if not for all civilization.  It has fallen under attack since.  Most of us still consume wheat every day, if not soft red winter wheat.

The best thing I can do as a farmer and a grower of wheat is pick the best variety I can and plant it and feed it at the proper time.  That in itself is a learning and growing experience.

I walked the seed field of John Steritz Seed last summer before harvest and thought that is a wheat I should grow myself.  It is called Ohio Certified Lion soft red winter wheat.  John Armstrong, of Ohio Seed Improvement said, "roar like a lion."  That means yield.

Ohio Seed Improvement scouted over 14,000 acres of soft red winter wheat varieties this summer, mostly Ohio Certified varieties.  We had a good wheat breeding program but like many industries, key people have retired.  It is good to see the breeding program bring out a good variety like Lion, I think it will work in any soft red wheat growing area.

I accidentally put Tuesday's blog up Monday.  With the fair and scouting going on, it is my busy season.  I get to do my judging here in the next few weeks so there is lots to do before we take off for our trip to Quebec.

It's a beautiful day in southern Ohio with nice daytime temperatures and another cooling off period at night.  That is good for my wheat in the bin and the crops growing in the fields.

We are blessed.

Ed Winkle