artesian acres
the ancient grain for all generations
Kamut® brand khorasan wheat is sustainable. It's ability to produce high quality without artificial fertilizers and pesticides make it an excellent crop for organic farming.
Kamut® wheat production is well suited to growing conditions found in southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan. The crop requires about 100 days to mature. Kamut® khorasan will grow well in any soil that is suitable for cereal grain production.
Kamut® wheat's sprouted kernels produce one or two stems per seed. Stems produce a large head with long black awns. Heads bend over when they mature, helping to shed rainfall and reduce the risk of sprout damage. With 25 to 35 kernels of grain per head, Kamut® wheat's kernels grow about twice the size of spring wheat with a a distinctive hump shape.
adaptation
seeding
Seeding Kamut® wheat is ideally done in the first two weeks of May. Row spacing should be between 15 to 23 cm (6 to 9 inches).
Narrow spacing will enable the crop canopy close in more quickly in order to compete with weed growth.
The bushel weight of Kamut® khorasan is 60 lbs/bu. The target plant density is similar to other wheat varieties, ranging from 20 plants/ft2)-24 plants/ft2.
pest management
Like other wheat varieties grown on the prairies, Kamut® wheat may be susceptible to fungal infections due to prolonged humidity and rain.
Kamut® khorasan is susceptible to the same pests as other wheat varieties. Some insects such as wheat midge and grasshoppers can cause significant damage in peak cycle years.
Kamut® khorasan produces well in diverse organic rotations. Crops such as alfalfa and peas, rotated with Kamut® wheat and buckwheat work syergistically to interrupt disease, insect and weed cycles. Kamut wheat yields well after a fallow or green manure plough-down, which also works to minimize weed competition and volunteer cereal crops.
harvest and storage
It is important to handle Kamut® khorasan carefully during harvest. It should be swathed at 18 percent moisture and aerated to 12.5-13.5 percent. This is helpful in reducing losses due to broken kernals.
The target for broken kernels is five per cent or less. Careful grain handling after harvest helps to minimize both broken kernels and dockage. Crops like peas and lentils are easily cleaned out of the grain, however wild oats can be difficult to remove.