Weatherbury Farm Grain Tracker
From Planting to Harvest, Maxine Hard Red Winter Wheat (Whole & Sifted Maxine Bread Flour) in the field:
Before planting Maxine Wheat, the fields are plowed and harrowed. Harrowing smooths the field after plowing.
Planting the Maxine Hard Red Winter Wheat on a Sunny Fall Day
After the fields are plowed and harrowed, the Maxine Wheat is planted. On the front of the planter, there is also a harrow which smooths the field, giving the Maxine the best possible growing conditions.
The Maxine Wheat is emerging from winter and already the plants have already begun to tiller and put forth multiple stalks per plant.
Winter planted grains, like Maxine, need to vernalize over the winter to produce grain. If you planted the Maxine Wheat in the spring, it would just look like grass and not develop any grain.
Frost Seeding Clover into Maxine Wheat.
Maxine Wheat is a winter planted grain and is planted in the fall. This allows the crop to get a head start on weeds in the spring. With the wet weather in our area, this is a must.
The clover suppresses weeds, aids in holding up the grain, increases soil organic matter, and eventually provides nitrogen to the next crop.
Maxine Bread Flour in the field!
Just over two months later, the wheat is beginning to head out. The wheat grains that are milled into flour are in the wheat heads.
11 days later, the Maxine Wheat is beginning to dry down.
Behind the Maxine, you can see how we plant our grains in contour fields, alternating with hay fields. Contour fields reduce erosion and can increase water retention in the soil. The contour grain fields in this picture are Danko Rye.
Harvesting Maxine Wheat with our Gleaner Combine
When the Maxine Wheat is harvested, the wheat grain is stored in the body of the combine. Straw comes out the back of the combine and is deposited back into field. The straw will be used either to bed animals or left in the field to increase the organic matter of the soil.
Unloading the Maxine Hard Red Winter Wheat into a gravity wagon to take the grain back to the home farm. There, we place aerators in the wagon to bring down the moisture of the grain. The grain is stored in the wagon until it is cleaned.
Maxine Hard Red Winter Wheat Facts 2023
Maxine Wheat Fields 2023
In 2022, Maxine Hard Red Winter Wheat was grown in Independence Township 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.
The wheat was planted on two fields totaling 3.656 acres on October 18, 2022.
Clover was frost seeded into the wheat on April 3, 2023. (The clover suppresses weeds, aids in holding up the grain, increases soil organic matter, and eventually provides nitrogen to the next crop.)
The Maxine Wheat was harvested on July 13, 2023.
At the 2023 Washington County Fair, the Maxine Wheat sheaf won 2nd place and the jar of Maxine Wheat grains won 3rd place.
For an illustrated explanation of how Weatherbury grains become flour, visit the from seed to flour page.
About Maxine Hard Red Winter Wheat
Whole and Sifted Maxine Bread Flour
Maxine is a fairly modern German variety and it is well adapted to growing in the northeast.
Products Milled from Maxine Hard Red Winter Wheat
Maxine Wheat is milled into organic, unbleached whole and sifted Maxine Bread Flour. With very good baking properties, the flour is used by bakers for all types of leavened, unleavened & sourdough baked goods.
Bread, made with Weatherbury’s Bread Flour, ground from Maxine wheat, has been called “life affirming” by eater. com.
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
Maxine bread flour can be ordered either for our monthly on-farm pickup or you can have your order sent to you.
To read more about Maxine bread flour, please visit our products page.
More information on Maxine Hard Red Winter Wheat and other grains grown at Weatherbury Farm are on the grains we grow page.