Weatherbury Farm Grain Tracker
From Planting to Harvest, Frederick Soft White Winter Wheat (Whole & Sifted Pastry Flour) in the field:
Before planting Frederick Wheat, the fields are plowed and harrowed. Harrowing (tractor on right) smooths the field after plowing.
Winter planted grains (like Frederick) need to vernalized over the winter to produce grain. If the wheat was planted in the spring, the field would look just like grass and not develop grain heads.
Planting the Frederick Soft White Winter Wheat on a Sunny Fall Day
The planter has a harrow on its front which smooths the field before the grain is planted. This gives the Frederick Wheat the best possible growing conditions.
The harvested wheat will be milled across the road (you can see the white mill building just behind the tractor.) Quite the short supply chain.
The wheat plant, with the grain heads forming. The grains in the head will be milled into flour.
Weatherbury’s Organic Pastry Flour in the field!
The wheat plant is drying down.
In this photo, you see a hay field in front of the Frederick wheat field. Last year that field we grew grain in that field. You can see the clover that was frost seeded.
At Weatherbury Farm we farm in contour fields, alternating hay fields between grain fields. This practice reduces soil erosion and improves water infiltration, which in turn increase soil fertility.
Harvesting Frederick Soft White Winter Wheat.
The threshed grains are retained in the body of the combine. The straw is deposited from the rear of the combine back unto the field. We either bale the straw to use for animal bedding or leave it in the field, where it will increase the organic matter of the soil.
Increasing the organic matter of the soil is one of the best ways to counter global warming.
The harvested wheat is put into gravity wagons for storage until milled.
Frederick White Soft Winter Wheat Facts 2025
Frederick Wheat Fields 2025
In 2025, Frederick White Soft Winter Wheat was grown in Independence Township on our home farm. The farm is part of a 436 acre grant (known as Extravagance) surveyed to John Doddridge on April 6,1786. According to the Caldwell Atlas , the farm was established by M.T. Murdock in 1825. Murdock is listed as a farmer, grain, stock and wool grower (with 150 sheep). The farm was later a dairy operation (the Patterson family: 1945-1966) and a cattle operation (the Eastham family: 1966-1986). In 2008, we began raising historical grains on both the home farm and neighboring farms. The grains were certified organic in 2009 . In April 2014 Weatherbury Farm began stone-grinding flour. Weatherbury Farm also raised grass fed beef.
The wheat was planted on 2 fields totaling 5.2 acres on October 20, 2024.
Clover was frost seeded into the Frederick Wheat on March 9, 2025. (The clover suppresses weeds, aids in holding up the grain and, eventually provides nitrogen to the next crop.)
The Frederick Wheat was harvested on July 5, 2025.
At the 2025 Washington County Fair, the Frederick Wheat sheaf won 2nd place.
Washington County Fair 2016: Frederick Wheat Sheaf
And as to taste — cornbread made with Weatherbury’s pastry flour and cornmeal placed at the county fair 9 out of the past 10 years, winning 4 First place awards and 3 Second place award and 2 Third place awards. Recipes using Frederick Pastry Flour range from pancakes to cakes (including our personal favorite — butter cake), cookies and cookies.
In 2016, the Frederick Wheat sheaf won the Best of Show/Judge’s Choice Award.
For an illustrated explanation of how Weatherbury grains become flour, visit the from seed to flour page.
About Frederick Soft White Winter Wheat
Frederick White Soft Winter Wheat was developed under the auspices of the Ontario Cereal Crops Committee and does well in our area.
Products Milled from Frederick Soft White Winter Wheat
Frederick White Soft Winter Wheat is milled into organic unbleached whole and sifted pastry flour, both of which are unbelievably tasty and a great way to punch up nutrition in cakes and pastries.
Health benefits of Wheat
Wheat is an excellent source of protein, dietary fibers, manganese and selenium. Wheat’s fiber boosts the digestive process and improves overall metabolism. The vitamin B content of wheat provides you with energy. Additionally, the complex carbohydrates in wheat keeps you feeling fuller longer and give you energy over a longer period.
Managanese, which wheat is rich in, acts as a co-factor for greater than 300 enzymes involved in the production of insulin and glucose secretion. Wheat’s betaine content prevents chronic inflammation, which is a key constituent in rheumatic pains and diseases. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory property reduces the risk of ailments like osteoporosis, heart diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, and type-2 diabetes.
More Information
Pastry flour can be ordered from our on-line shop either to pick up at our monthly on-farm pickup or to place a mail order.
To read more about pastry flour, please visit our our Pastry Flour (made from Frederick Flour) product page.
More information on Frederick White Soft Winter Wheat and other grains grown at Weatherbury Farm are on the grains we grow page.