justadream-ga,
Hello once again. Nice to have you back, and thanks so much for
directing a question my way.
When I was growing up in Brooklyn, I lived not very far away from a
patch of land that was reportedly the very last working farm in New
York City. It was eventually paved over when I was about 10, I think,
but I still remember how odd it seemed to have pigs and chickens
running around in the middle of the city.
And that is the extent of my knowledge about farming!
Still, I was able to find some good resources for you regarding wheat harvests.
Wheat is growing in just about every state in the US. There are many
different varieties grown -- winter wheat, spring wheat, durum wheat,
and sub-categories ike hard red spring wheat.
With so many varieties and growing conditions, there is a long
harvesting season for wheats that extends pretty much from early
summer through the fall. I came across two good resources that
provide a broad overview of harvesting activities and dates. I think
these should fully meet your needs, but if not, then just let me know
what else you would like, and I'll do my best to track it down.
First off, here's a bit more about the major types of wheat, from the
"Wheat Facts" site from the Small Grains organization:
http://www.smallgrains.org/WHFACTS/6classwh.htm
Six Basic Classes of Wheat
The same organization also makes available overview maps on wheat
harvesting activities around the nation:
http://www.smallgrains.org/WHFACTS/uswinwhe.htm
Usual Start of Planting & Harvesting
Winter wheat is generally planted in the fall, despite its name, and
harvesting can begin as early as May in the southern states, although
most of the crop is harvested in June and early July. The harvest
date generally gets later as one heads north, so that harvests in
states like North Dakota can be the latter part of July.
The maps also show that spring wheat, usually planted in April, is
harvested mostly in August (though some harvesting can extend into
October, as you'll see below).
Another type of resoruce on wheat harvesting can be found in the
detailed "Harvest Reports" from US Wheat Associates:
http://www.uswheat.org/harvestReports
The first harvest reports of the year are generally issued in June,
though you should note that the date varies -- the first report for
2004 was issued as early as June 4th, though the 2002 report did not
appear until June 25th, reflecting the different timing of crop
readiness in different years.
At the opposite end of harvest season, most of the harvesting is
completed by September, although the harvest reports include reports
in October "if necessary" -- again reflecting the vagaries of the
growing season from year to year. A final harvest report was issued
by September 23 for the 2003 growing season, but did not appear until
three weeks later -- October 15 -- in 2004.
I trust this information fully answers your question. However, please
don't rate this answer until you have everything you need. If you
would like any additional information, just post a Request for
Clarification to let me know how I can assist you further, and I'm at
your service.
All the best,
pafalafa-ga
search strategy -- Google searches on:
[ wheat harvest ]
[ wheat association ]
["winter wheat" "spring wheat" durum harvest ] |
Clarification of Answer by
pafalafa-ga
on
07 Apr 2005 19:07 PDT
California!!??!! Why didn't you say so?
For information on the California wheat harvest, the best place to
turn is the California Wheat Commission's own harvest reports.
Here is a link to the harvest report from late July, 2003 (I didn't
see a version for 2004, and it's too early yet for 2005):
http://www.californiawheat.org/2003%20Weekly%20Harvest.htm
As you can see, the harvest is completed in some areas down in south
and central California, well underway up around the San Francisco
area, and not even started yet in the outermost regions of California:
July 25, 2003
IMPERIAL VALLEY -- 100% complete.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY -- 100% complete
SACRAMENTO VALLEY -- approximately 90% complete
CENTRAL COASTAL REGION -- approximately 50% complete
SISKIYOU - SHASTA REGION -- Harvest has yet to begin
Of course, the dates won't be precisely the same for this year, but
the general pattern and timing will likely be quite similar.
I hope this added information is what you need. But as always, just
give me a holler if there's anything else I can do for you.
paf
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Clarification of Answer by
pafalafa-ga
on
28 Apr 2005 11:42 PDT
Better to by too busy, than too bored, Eh...?
Israel -- as is the case with the Middle East generally -- has a
fairly short growing season, even with reliance on extensive
irrigation. Typically, wheat crops are harvested right around this
time of year, as mentioned in this site:
http://www.learnthebible.org/Jewish%20Year.htm
Israel?s main growing season is during the winter when most of the
rain comes. The summer is so dry that very little can grow. Barley
and wheat are sown at the beginning of the rainy season (Oct.-Nov.)
and harvested at the end (Apr.-May).
[NOTE: A number of Jewish holidays coincide with the planting and
harvest events, as discussed on the above site]
More specific information about harvests in the Mideast can be found
in the Foodcrops and Shortages reports issued by the international
Food and Agricultural Organization, which confirm April as the
beginning of the harvest in Israel:
http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/007/j4273e/j4273e00.htm
ISRAEL (11 February)
Early prospects for the 2005 wheat and barley crops, to be harvested
from April are favourable so far, reflecting improved precipitation.
Domestic production of wheat in normal years covers less than
one-fifth of total requirement, the rest being imported commercially.
Aggregate production of wheat and barley in 2004 is estimated at 128
000 tonnes, nearly 8 percent below the average of the previous five
years. Imports of cereals in 2004/05 (July/June) are forecast at about
3.05 million tonnes.
In Iran, harvesting appears to be more in the May/June timeframe:
http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/007/j4273e/j4273e00.htm
IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF (9 February)
Currently the main crops in the ground are wheat, the country?s main
staple, and barley. Harvesting of barley will commence from March,
whilst that of wheat will begin around May/June.
Wheat output for 2004 has been estimated at record 14 million tonnes,
0.5 million tonnes up from last year?s bumper crop and 3.6 million
tonnes more than the average of the previous five years, reflecting a
substantial financial support from government and favourable weather.
As a result of the increased production, the country is expected to
maintain self-sufficiency in Wheat in 2004/05.
You can find similar text for a great many countries around the world
at the main FAO site for their "Foodcrops" reports:
http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/007/j4273e/j4273e00.htm
Have fun!
paf
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