Wheat Growing Regions in the Northwest

From the protected river valleys of the Pacific Northwest to the broad and productive plains of the Northern Plains, this part of North America contains some remarkable agricultural landscapes. Granite Mill Farms, located in northwestern Montana, enjoys a strategic position near several important wheat-producing areas. This allows the farm to obtain high-quality grains for its sprouted products. Let’s explore some of these remarkable farming regions.

The Palouse

The Palouse covers parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho, extending from the meeting point of the Snake and Columbia Rivers toward the wooded foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The region is famous for its exceptionally scenic wheat country.

Smooth, rolling hills stretch across the landscape like enormous sand dunes, changing from vivid green when crops are young to warm golden shades during harvest. These unusual hills were formed by wind-deposited soils called loess. Rich in minerals and combined with the area's semi-arid climate, this soil creates excellent conditions for growing wheat. Soft white wheat, sometimes described as the “cashmere of wheat,” is especially common throughout the region.

To Visit: Spokane lies just north of the Palouse and provides convenient airport connections. From the lively Inland Empire, travelers can drive south into a much quieter landscape filled with peaceful roads and small rural communities. Palouse Falls, one of Washington's most impressive waterfalls, is another attraction that often remains relatively uncrowded.

Nearby Destinations: Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Lake Coeur d’Alene, Spokane’s Riverfront Park.

The Golden Triangle

Montana has a long-standing reputation as an important wheat-producing state, and one of its most remarkable agricultural areas is the roughly triangular region formed between Great Falls, Conrad, and Havre.

Located immediately east of the Rocky Mountains, this area is characterized by seemingly limitless views across golden wheat fields. The local soil is often known as Montana's famous “gumbo” because of its sticky texture. It consists largely of extremely fine silt that is capable of retaining substantial amounts of moisture.

Although this heavy soil can make farming equipment difficult to operate, its ability to preserve moisture becomes extremely valuable during Montana's hot and dry summers. Reliable moisture combined with intense summer heat creates favorable conditions for producing wheat with high protein content.

As travel writer Doreen Stevens described the region in the New York Times' “52 Places to Love,” people often speak about Montana's Big Sky, but the land itself is what truly allows you to see seemingly forever.

Visit: Great Falls offers the nearest major airport and makes a convenient starting point for exploring the region. Visitors can learn about local history at the C. M. Russell Museum or travel to Fort Benton, an historic frontier community situated along the Missouri River.

Nearby Destinations: Glacier National Park, Montana State Capitol, Bob Marshall Wilderness Area.

The Okanagan

The mountainous geography of western North America creates a wide variety of local climates. Moist air arriving from the Pacific releases much of its precipitation on the western sides of mountain ranges, leaving other areas considerably drier. Some regions therefore resemble temperate rainforests, while others have a much more arid character.

Long valleys enclosed by mountains can experience surprisingly mild weather because the surrounding terrain shields them from the powerful weather systems that frequently affect areas farther east of the continental divide.

The Okanagan Valley, which extends across the border between British Columbia and Washington State, is a particularly good example. Okanagan Lake also helps moderate local temperatures by acting as a natural thermal regulator. The combination of relatively cool winters and warm summers has created an environment well suited to growing fruit and cereal crops.

The region is perhaps most famous for its wine industry in Canada and contains nearly 90 percent of the province's wineries. However, the valley is also suitable for numerous ancient grains, including einkorn, spelt, and emmer. These crops benefit from the clean mountain snowmelt flowing down from the surrounding highlands.

Visit: Kelowna, British Columbia, serves as the principal center for exploring the Okanagan. Travelers can head north toward Armstrong and Salmon Arm or drive south toward the United States border and Omak, Washington. Both directions provide beautiful scenery throughout the journey.

Nearby Destinations: Big White Ski Resort, North Cascades National Park, Mount Revelstoke National Park.