History

• Wheat in America originated from the Fertile Crescent in southwest Asia, according to Oklahoma State University. And that was more than 9,000 years ago. But wheat is still as much in demand today as it was when Columbus packed it in anticipation of his second journey to the New World. And while colonial Americans enjoyed wheat years ago, the 19th century saw a greater cultivation of it with the introduction of Turkey red wheat by Russian immigrants.
  
  

Function

• Wheat is used to make bread, and it provides protein, minerals and carbohydrates to those who eat it. One-third of the world's population actually depends upon wheat for their very survival, nutritionally. And Americans consume more of it than any other staple. In addition, this grain is grown on more land area throughout the world than any other type of crop produced.
  
  

Time Frame

• Wheat follows a different planting, growing and harvesting time table than other crops. Soil is prepared for planting wheat in the summer, but the seed isn't planted until fall. Before frost can come, wheat will grow approximately 6 inches, then it will stop and enter a dormant phase. This halt in the growth process ends in the spring, and the wheat resumes growing with the moisture and warmth spring brings. The wheat may reach 7 feet and changes from green in early summer to a tan color, and eventually a golden brown once ready for harvesting.
  
  

Warning

• Once a wheat crop is ready for harvest, a farmer will need to move quickly. Hail can destroy an entire crop that is still in the wheat field when a storm comes, and lightning storms can produce fires that will consume the crop as well.
  
  

Features

• The process of growing wheat agriculturally has changed over the years. It used to be that wheat was grown by farmers who dispensed the seed by hand after tilling their ground with simple machinery. Now larger plow equipment is used to turn over the soil and kill weeds, prior to drill machines being used to plant the wheat seed into the ground. A combine is used to harvest the wheat once it is fully grown and farmers then store the wheat in a grain elevator until it is sold.
  
  

Significance

• Wheat kernels are broken down into three main parts: bran, endosperm and germ. But not all wheat parts are used for all wheat products. Whole wheat bread uses all the parts, but all-purpose flour is made from ground-up endosperm only.