Weatherbury Farm Grain Tracker
From Planting to Harvest, Danko Rye (Whole & Sifted Rye Flour) in the field:
Before planting, the fields are plowed and harrowed. Harrowing (behind tractor on right) smooths the field after plowing.
Danko Rye is planted in the fall of the year and harvested the next summer. This is because the rye needs to vernalize over the winter. If it were planted in the spring, no grain would develop and the field would look like grass.
Today clover was spun into the Danko Rye. The clover suppresses weeds, aids in holding up the grain and, eventually provides nitrogen to the next crop.
Danko Rye Flour in the field!
Just over 2 months later, the rye is drying down. The grains that are milled into flour are in the grain head.
A combine is used to harvest the rye.
When the Danko Rye is harvested, the rye grain is stored in the body of the combine (located behind the cab). Straw, which comes out the back of the combine, is deposited back into field (behind the combine). The straw will be used either to bed animals or left in the field to increase the organic matter of the soil.
After the grain is harvested, 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.
Danko Rye Facts 2025 — fields, acres, rye sheaf photo
Danko Rye Field 2025
In 2025, Danko Rye was grown in Independence Township on the farm known as “Manchester Farm.” Founded in 1797, the farm has been certified organic since 2006. Manchester is listed in the Caldwell Atlas as a farmer, grain and stock raiser, also as a breeder of first class Saxon sheep (with 800 sheep). Previously a dairy, the farm most recently raised beef & pork and now offers horse boarding. Weatherbury has farmed this farm since 2024.
The rye was planted on October 24 2024 on 1 field, totaling 3.5 acres on October 27 2024.
Clover was frost seeded into the grain on April 14, 2025 . (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, 2025.
At the 2025 Washington County Fair, both the Rye sheaf and the jar of Rye grains won 1st place. The rye sheaf also won the best of show ribbon.
For an illustrated explanation of how Weatherbury grains become flour, visit the from seed to flour page.
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 at our online shop 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 rye flour product page.
More information on rye and other grains grown at Weatherbury Farm is on the grains we grow page.