Weatherbury Farm Grain Tracker
From Planting to Harvest, Gehl Oats (Rolled Oats, Whole Oat Flour & Oat Groats) in the field:
Preparing the seedbed for the oats. On the right, a tractor is plowing the field. On the left, another tractor is smoothing the seedbed with a power harrow.
Planting the oats on the prepared seedbed.
The planter also has a power harrow behind it which gives a smooth surface for maximum germination.
Clover was inter-seeded on the oats field using a hand spinner.
The clover suppresses weeds, aids in holding up the oats and eventually will be next year’s hay crop. In our crop rotation, hay follows oats. In total, the farmers walk about 40 miles each year inter-seeding clover on our grain fields.
15 weeks after planting. The oats are maturing but some stems are still green and the oats are in the milk stage.
Rolled Oats, Whole Oat Flour & Oat Groats in the Field!
The oats are drying down and are almost ready for harvest.
We harvest the mature oats with our Gleaner Combine. The oats are stored in the bin on the combine while the straw and chaff are expelled from the back of the combine
Unloading the oats from the combine into the wagon for transport back to Weatherbury Farm.
On the farm the oats will be triple cleaned.
Gehl Hull-less Oats Facts 2022
Gehl Oat Fields 2022
In 2022, Gehl Hull-less Oats were grown in Independence Township on 3 fields totaling 6 acres on the farm known as “Pleasant View Farm.” This farm was established in 1824 by J.M Welsh. Welsh is listed in the Caldwell Atlas as a farmer, grain, stock and wool grower. The farm was dormant for many years; however since 2006, organic grains and hay were grown on this farm. Weatherbury Farm has farmed this land since 2017. The farm has been certified organic since 2006. 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 raises grass fed beef.
The oats were planted on April 4, 2022.
Clover was inter-seeded on the oats field on April 29, 2022. (The clover suppresses weeds, aids in holding up the oats and eventually will be next year’s hay crop. In our crop rotation, hay follows oats.)
The oats were harvested on July 24, 2022.
At the 2022 Washington County Fair, both the sheaf of Gehl Oats and the jar of Gehl Oats won 1st place.
For an illustrated explanation of how Weatherbury grains become flour (and how Gehl hull-less Oats become rolled oats), visit the from seed to flour page.
About Gehl Hull-less Oats
Gehl is the first bald-seeded hulless oat; the hull threshes free from the oat groat which means it can be rolled “live” rather than being steamed prior to rolling.
Products from Gehl Hull-less Oats
Rolled Oats & Oat Groats
After we harvest our oats, they are triple-cleaned and rolled or milled, with none of the processing used in producing commercial rolled oats. Thus, Weatherbury Rolled Oats, Whole Oat Flour and Weatherbury Oat Groats have their natural vitality, nutrients and flavor.
Health benefits of Oats
Oats are incredibly nutritious. They are a good source of carbs and fiber and are loaded with important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Additionally, oats contain a beta-glucan, a fiber found to be very effective in lowering cholesterol. Oats also have avenanthramides, an antioxidant unique to oats, which may help protect blood vessels from the damaging effects of LDL cholesterol and keep blood pressure low.
Weatherbury’s oats are rolled “live;” commercial oats are steamed before rolling. Thus, none of Weatherbury’s Rolle Oats’ vitality, flavor or nutrients are lost in the process.
More Information
Rolled Oats, Whole Oat Flour and Oat Groats can be ordered either for our monthly on-farm pickup or you can have your order sent to you.
To read more about Rolled Oats, Whole Oat Flour and Oat Groats, please visit our products page.
More information on Rolled Oats, Whole Oat Flour, Oat Groats and other grains grown at Weatherbury Farm are on the grains we grow page .