Wheat (triticum aestivum)
Wheat is an adaptable crop, which can be harvested from the borders of the arctic to the equator. Man has cultivated, harvested and eaten wheat over many centuries, as evidenced by the samples of ancient wheat unearthed at all the world's major archaeological sites.
It is said that the Egyptian Pharoes cut the first sheaf of wheat with a golden sickle as a sign that the harvest could commence.
Hard wheat is produced in regions of extreme climatic variance, such as North and South America, Canada, Eastern Europe and Australia. Soft wheats are produced in areas with milder climates. The United Kingdom is been known for its soft and biscuit wheat varieties.
In this country farmers' select specific wheat varieties to grow depending on the climate, location and intended end use. Winter wheat varieties are planted in the autumn and spring wheat varieties are sown in the spring and both are harvested during the late summer.
The crop is ready to harvest when the ripe ears of wheat can be cut from their stalks and thrashed to loosen the individual grains of wheat.
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