It’s really hard to believe that it’s the last week of July!
On Saturday, with the help of good weather, harvesting of winter wheat was well underway in Upper Canard.
Dozens of farmers across the valley will be working over the next few weeks to harvest many crops in our communities, including Woodside Gardens Ltd.
In order to harvest winter wheat the ideal moisture content needs to be at 14% or lower. Mother nature plays a big part, with warm and windy conditions, fields can reach their required moisture level all on their own for harvesting!
In some cases, weather conditions don’t always cooperate and moisture levels can be higher. If wheat is harvested with a higher moisture content, it requires artificial drying and in some cases it can spoil and mold.
In turn, this process can cost farmers more money and time while also putting an expensive crop in jeopardy.
Farming comes with a mix of knowledge, from math, science and understanding the weather, they all play a factor in a successful harvest.
When combines harvest a wheat field they’re only looking for the head of the plant that contain the kernels.
The rest of the plant, also know as the stalk, are chopped up and left behind for baling of straw or feed for livestock.
This unique way of farming allows for other farms to work together, where one farm such as Woodside Gardens Ltd focuses on the yield of the crop, others like Wittenberg Farms bale the straw for bedding.
Winter wheat can be used for multiple different types of things, such as animal feed.
These particular crops being harvested will be taken to Ansems Green Elevators where it will be graded and stored. Eventually it will be shipped to local feed mills to be processed for animal feed.
Attached are photos taken in Upper Canard yesterday of Woodside Garden Ltd & Wittenberg Farms!
Adrian J.
