Baart Early Wheat

(Triticum vulgare); a cultivar from the Kusa Seed Society Collection; Spring planted; Minimum 50 seeds

With its large, semi-hard white kernals and glumes Baart Early was once a popular pre-modern bread wheat. The variety traces its origin from South Africa via Australia in the late 19th century, arriving in the US in 1900 to become extensively grown throughout Arizona and the Pacific Coast states. Agriculture records show Baart Early grown on 500,000 acres in 1919 expanding to a peak 890,000 acres in 1939. As with many varieties however, the industry-wide drive to maximize productivity through increased mechanization left Baart Early behind. Thanks to the renewed interest in heritage grains and sustainable cultivation, it is experiencing a resurgence.