Bernard Warkentin
the Mennonite farmers that settled the American Midwest brought with them from Russia a type of hard winter wheat that is known as "turkey red wheat". Hard Red Winter - Hard, brownish, mellow high-protein wheat used for bread, hard baked goods and as an adjunct in other flours to increase protein in pastry flour for pie crusts. Some brands of unbleached all-purpose flours are commonly made from hard red winter wheat alone. It is primarily traded by the Kansas City Board of Trade.
The Mennonite farmers that settled the American Midwest brought with them from Russia a type of hard winter wheat that is known as "turkey red wheat". Hard Red Winter - Hard, brownish, mellow high-protein wheat used for bread, hard baked goods and as an adjunct in other flours to increase protein in pastry flour for pie crusts. Some brands of unbleached all-purpose flours are commonly made from hard red winter wheat alone. It is primarily traded by the Kansas City Board of Trade.
Norwegian immigrants settled in Kansas and Wisconsin and brought wheat strains that flourished in the American Midwest.
Hard Winter wheat and a variety called 'Turkey' can be traced to Crimea between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in the early 19th century and earlier to Turkey to the south of the Black Sea. Mennonite immigrants brought it to the United States in the early 1870s, introducing it to the areas surrounding Marian, Reno and Harvey Counties in Kansas. It became the dominant hard red winter wheat in Kansas and much of the Great Plains bread basket and was the major hard winter variety in the 1920s. Significant acreage was planted in Kansas until the mid-1940s when it was replaced with modern higher-yielding cultivars.Currently, 'Turkey' wheat is grown in a few small plots by hobby growers but the variety has virtually disappeared from the agricultural and gastronomical landscape. Today, few people under thirty have heard the story of Mennonite families fleeing Tsarist persecution and coming to Kansas with trunks of hand-selected 'Turkey' wheat seed. Bryce Stephens of Jennings, Kansas has planted 100 acres, which is likely the largest planting of 'Turkey' wheat in many decades and this planting was harvested during the summer of 2009. With the hope of making more wheat available, increased planting acreage is planned for the coming years. Increased planting and active usage of this variety will help maintain its genetic diversity and viability.
The Mennonite farmers that settled the American Midwest brought with them from Russia a type of hard winter wheat that is known as "turkey red wheat".Hard Red Winter - Hard, brownish, mellow high-protein wheat used for bread, hard baked goods and as an adjunct in other flours to increase protein in pastry flour for pie crusts. Some brands of unbleached all-purpose flours are commonly made from hard red winter wheat alone. It is primarily traded by the Kansas City Board of Trade.
The states that make up the wheat belt are parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, and Colorado. Parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota are also states in the wheat belt.
Hard Red Winter Wheat and a variety called 'Turkey' is a tall, winter hardy cultivar, grown in the Great Plains. This wheat variety has a unique, rich, and complex flavor and excellent baking qualities. Production methods used are nearly identical to those used for other hard winter wheat, with the exception of accommodating the significantly taller growth habit and later date of harvest.This particular variety can be traced to Crimea between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in the early 19th century and earlier to Turkey to the south of the Black Sea. Mennonite immigrants brought it to the United States in the early 1870s, introducing it to the areas surrounding Marian, Reno and Harvey Counties in Kansas. It became the dominant hard red winter wheat in Kansas and much of the Great Plains bread basket and was the major hard winter variety in the 1920s. Significant acreage was planted in Kansas until the mid-1940s when it was replaced with modern higher-yielding cultivars.Currently, 'Turkey' wheat is grown in a few small plots by hobby growers but the variety has virtually disappeared from the agricultural and gastronomical landscape. Today, few people under thirty have heard the story of Mennonite families fleeing Tsarist persecution and coming to Kansas with trunks of hand-selected 'Turkey' wheat seed. Bryce Stephens of Jennings, Kansas has planted 100 acres, which is likely the largest planting of 'Turkey' wheat in many decades and this planting was harvested during the summer of 2009. With the hope of making more wheat available, increased planting acreage is planned for the coming years. Increased planting and active usage of this variety will help maintain its genetic diversity and viability.
Wheat grows well in Kansas and North Dakota due to their favorable climate and soil conditions. The region's temperate climate, characterized by warm summers and cold winters, is ideal for growing hard red winter wheat, a primary crop in Kansas. North Dakota, known for its rich, fertile soil and adequate rainfall, supports the production of hard red spring wheat. Both states benefit from a strong agricultural infrastructure and a long history of wheat farming, making them key contributors to the U.S. wheat industry.
Wheat fields in Kansas cover approximately 8.5 million acres, making the state one of the largest wheat producers in the United States. The Kansas wheat harvest typically yields around 300 million bushels annually, contributing significantly to the state's agriculture and economy. The expansive fields are predominantly planted with hard red winter wheat, which thrives in the region's climate and soil conditions.
The Mennonite farmers that settled the American Midwest in the late 1870's brought with them from Russia a type of hard winter wheat that is known as "turkey red wheat".Hard Red Winter - Hard, brownish, mellow high-protein wheat used for bread, hard baked goods and as an adjunct in other flours to increase protein in pastry flour for pie crusts. Some brands of unbleached all-purpose flours are commonly made from hard red winter wheat alone. It is primarily traded by the Kansas City Board of Trade.
The Mennonite farmers that settled the American Midwest in the late 1870's brought with them from Russia a type of hard winter wheat that is known as "turkey red wheat".Hard Red Winter - Hard, brownish, mellow high-protein wheat used for bread, hard baked goods and as an adjunct in other flours to increase protein in pastry flour for pie crusts. Some brands of unbleached all-purpose flours are commonly made from hard red winter wheat alone. It is primarily traded by the Kansas City Board of Trade.
Turkey is the name of the Hard Red Winter Wheat and is a tall, winter hardy cultivar, grown in the Great Plains. This wheat variety has a unique, rich, and complex flavor and excellent baking qualities. Production methods used are nearly identical to those used for other hard winter wheat, with the exception of accommodating the significantly taller growth habit and later date of harvest.This particular variety can be traced to Crimea between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in the early 19th century and earlier to Turkey to the south of the Black Sea. Mennonite immigrants brought it to the United States in the early 1870s, introducing it to the areas surrounding Marian, Reno and Harvey Counties in Kansas. It became the dominant hard red winter wheat in Kansas and much of the Great Plains bread basket and was the major hard winter variety in the 1920s. Significant acreage was planted in Kansas until the mid-1940s when it was replaced with modern higher-yielding cultivars.Currently, 'Turkey' wheat is grown in a few small plots by hobby growers but the variety has virtually disappeared from the agricultural and gastronomical landscape. Today, few people under thirty have heard the story of Mennonite families fleeing Tsarist persecution and coming to Kansas with trunks of hand-selected 'Turkey' wheat seed. Bryce Stephens of Jennings, Kansas has planted 100 acres, which is likely the largest planting of 'Turkey' wheat in many decades and this planting was harvested during the summer of 2009. With the hope of making more wheat available, increased planting acreage is planned for the coming years. Increased planting and active usage of this variety will help maintain its genetic diversity and viability.