Portal:United States Department of Agriculture

“ The districts of northeastern Kansas, northern Missouri, southern Towa, and central Illinois are those in which both hard and soft red winter wheats are grown. In these sections the value of Turkey in comparison with other varieties depends on the soil, elevation, rainfall, and seasonal or local conditions, but in general several varieties of soft winter wheat are nearly or quite equal to Turkey. North and west of the area of heavy production of hard red winter wheat, the Turkey is one of the best adapted varieties of winter wheat. ”

“ Turkey wheat was introduced into the United States by Mennonite immigrants from Russia about 1873. The original home of this wheat is in the portion of Russia just north and east of the Black Sea and north of the Caucasus Mountains. It was first grown in this country in Kansas and Nebraska. After the steel-roller mills were perfected, so that hard wheat could be properly ground, the growing of Turkey developed rapidly. To-day it is the most widely grown variety of wheat in the United States. More than 21,000,000 acres of Turkey were grown in 33 States of the Union in 1919. ”

“ Blackhull has given yields about equal to those of Kanred in central and eastern Kansas and somewhat less than those of Kanred in western Kansas. Outside of Kansas this variety has not been especially promising, although in limited experiments it has given good comparative yields in northeastern Colorado and eastern Oregon. Owing to its lack of hardiness it should not be grown in sections having severe winters. Even in Kansas the severe winter weather which occurs not infrequently in the northwestern counties might result in heavy losses of Blackhull. ”