Wheat

Kansas is known as The Wheat State and The Wheat Capital and produces approximately 20 percent of all the wheat grown in the United State every year. Thunder Acres is located in Sumner County which is regularly the leader in wheat production. This important crop is Thunder Acres's main crop, and we raise hard red winter wheat, cotton, and milo. 

 Wheat is planted using a drill to place the seed in the ground. We use liquid starter fertilizer to help the wheat seed get off to a good start. Wheat planting can be stressful for farmers because one never knows how deep to plant or the perfect time to plant since planting differs from year to year and is very dependent on the weather.

 

  

Once the wheat is planted, it sprouts and grows in the fall until the temperatures get below freezing. When the temperatures dip, the wheat becomes dormant for the winter. Wheat breaks dormancy in early spring and ripens in early June.

Harvesting begins in early June. It is the busiest time of the year as farmers race to get the grain out of the fields. Every time rain falls on ripened wheat, it loses some of its nutrients and color. This is why farmers will work long days during harvest. Wheat is harvested using a Combine (photo below). The combine separates the grain from the chaff. The grain is collected in the bin while the chaff is blown out the back of the combine. Once the combine bin is full, it unloads into a semi-truck that takes the wheat to the local elevator. Once there it is shipped to its final destination, which may mean it goes to a mill or is exported on a barge.

 At Thunder Acres, we’re dedicated to growing the best wheat available. In order to help spread great wheat, we offer wheatgrass seeds for use in your home as a nutritionally dense juice that can be added to drinks, as well as serving as a safe cat grass for your house cats. Visit our online store to find a variety of seeds and growing supplies.