Danko Rye Facts 2021
Danko Rye Fields 2021
In 2021, Danko Rye was grown in Independence Township on 4 fields, totaling 6.55 acres on the farm established by R. Meloy, Esquire in 1829. Meloy was a farmer, grain, stock and wool grower. More recently the farm was a dairy farm and a cattle farm. Weatherbury Farm has farmed this land since 2015. The farm has been certified organic since 2006.
The rye was planted on October 15, 2020.
Clover was frost seeded into the grain on April 4, 2021. (The clover suppresses weeds, aids in holding up the grain and, eventually provides nitrogen to the next crop.)
The Danko Rye was harvested on July 23, 2021.
At the 2021 Washington County Fair, both the Rye sheaf and the jar of Rye grains won 1st place.
For an illustrated explanation of how Weatherbury grains become flour, visit the from seed to flour page.
More information on Danko Rye below the pictures!
Planting Danko Rye.
The photo shows the rolling hills of southwestern Pennsylvania where we farm. To avoid erosion, we alternate 100 ‘ wide grain fields and hay fields.
Danko Rye emerging from the winter.
Rye Flour in the field.
Just 2 1/2 months later, the rye is almost mature and will be soon ready for harvest.
In the summer of 2021, there were rain storms with heavy winds. As a result, the rye lodged (farm speak for fell over). Not to worry, however, the farmers installed crop lifters on the combine to help with the harvest.
A combine is used to harvest the rye.
To the left of the combine, you can see a windrow of rye straw that has already run through the combine.
Straw is baled and used to bed Weatherbury’s animals in the barns. We also like to use it to mulch our vegetable garden.
After the grain is harvested, it is unloaded into a gravity box to be taken back to the farm for storage.
At the farm, an aerator is placed in the wagon to bring down the moisture of the grain.
About Danko Rye
Rye is the traditional bread for people from Germany east to Russia. Known as the rye belt, this is where most of the world’s rye is grown and consumed.
At Weatherbury Farm, we grow Danko Rye, which is a true milling-type rye with an interesting balance between spicy and bready. It is a favorite among beer makers and distillers; bakers, of course, love it to make authentic European-style rye breads.
Products Milled from Danko Rye
Danko Rye is milled into whole and sifted rye flour. None of the flours milled at Weatherbury Farm are bleached.
Health benefits of Rye
People have undervalued the benefits of rye for a long time. However, today many people are starting to use it for its numerous health benefits. It can help you lose weight, boost your metabolism, control your glucose levels (good for fighting diabetes), and has a heart-healthy fiber which lowers cholesterol levels.
More Information
Rye flour can be ordered either for our monthly on-farm pickup or you can have your order sent to you.
To read more about rye flour, please visit our products page.
More information on rye and other grains grown at Weatherbury Farm is on the grains we grow page.