Weath Production and Processing

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Wheat is a cereal grain grown all over the world. It is the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice and is the staple food of millions of people. China is the world`s largest producer of wheat with the U.S. ranked at number four. Wheat is the principal U.S. cereal grain for export and domestic consumption. Wheat is the fourth leading U.S. field crop and our leading export crop. Normally speaking, wheat is more often grown in arid regions where soil quality is poor. North Dakota is the largest wheat producing state in America. North Dakota farmers primarily grow hard red spring and durum wheat, leading the production of these two specialty wheat`s. Durum is the hardest of all wheat`s and is a key ingredient in pasta. North Dakota produces 68% of the U.S. durum crop. Many international and domestic mills prefer North Dakota durum for its color and strong gluten characteristics.
Crops need nutrients and fertilizer, just like people might take vitamins to help them stay strong and healthy. Farmers test the soil to determine just which nutrients are needed in each field. Wheat is planted with a drill, which is pulled by a tractor. A drill makes a “furrow”; the farmer opens the center of the furrow, drops in a line of seeds, and then covers the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Wheat is harvested with a self-propelled machine called a “combine”. The combine shakes and beats the wheat seeds out of the heads and separates the kernels from all the other plant materials. The kernels are moved into a grain tank on the combine. Many wheat producers work with custom harvesters to get their wheat out of the field and into the bin. There “harvesters for hire” travel the country throughout harvest season- April to September. Aft...

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...tary fiber and manganese, and as a good source of magnesium.

Works Cited

"Cereals." General Mills. General Mills Inc., n.d. Web. http://www.generalmills.com/Brands/Cereals.aspx 25 Jan. 2014.
Vitosh, M. L. "Wheat Fertility and Fertilization." Michigan State University Field Crop Team. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, n.d. Web. http://fieldcrop.msu.edu/wheat/ 23 Jan. 2014.
"Six Basic Classes of Wheat." Small Grains. Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Sept.-Oct. 1994. Web. http://www.smallgrains.org/WHFACTS/6classwh.htm 23 Jan. 2014.
"Buyers and Processors." North Dakota Wheat Commission. North Dakota Wheat Commission, 2005. Web. http://www.ndwheat.com/buyers/default.asp?ID=287 24 Jan. 2014.
"Milling and Processing." North American Millers Association. North American Millers Association, 2004. Web. http://www.namamillers.org/ 24 Jan. 2014.

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