Wheat Growing on High Desert Farms

There are many obvious benefits of the American wheat industry. It provides jobs to thousands, contributes to the economy, and quite literally feeds the world. It is the livelihood of many families across Oregon. My family’s farm in Central Oregon grows primarily specialty seed crops and hay but we still rely on the more scientific benefits of wheat. The efficiency of the wheat plant allows it to make a high return to soil health while drawing on a small amount of water. One of the specialty seed crops that we produce is carrot seed. To reduce the chance of disease and volunteer plants growing, a crop rotation is necessary when producing carrot seed. They also take a large portion of irrigation each summer, so it makes sense to choose a rotational crop that is water efficient like wheat.

When growing hay crops, wheat is still a great option for a rotation crop. The process of hay harvest involves heavy equipment constantly compacting the ground. The unique root system of wheat is a fibrous network of roots that can be several feet long. This breaks apart compacted soil and allows moisture to travel farther into the ground. The wheat we grow is irrigated so it typically grows taller than dryland wheat. After harvest, the byproduct is tilled under the ground increasing the humus of the soil.

The efficiency of wheat production allows it to be utilized as a cover crop on our farm. We are located in an area that has frequent wind and wind storms. Winter wheat planted in the fall holds the topsoil in the event of a storm. The seed is generally cheap to buy, requires minimal fertilizer especially following alfalfa, and only one herbicide application. Harvest also requires minimal time and financial inputs.

Generations of family farms have used wheat as a means to a livelihood. They have faced and overcome challenges of sustainability, production, and yield. Wether it is in the form of a cover crop, or thousands of acres of dryland lining the Columbia, wheat has impacted many farming operations across the state of Oregon.

2025 Scholarship Essay: Rilee Dennis