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Cultivating America's Bread Basket
Agriculture on the Prairie
When settlers came to the prairie in the 1870s, they learned from the land that grasses grew better than any other crop here. In 1874, Russian Mennonite immigrants brought seeds of Turkey Red winter wheat from the Russian steppes. Well suited to this climate, Turkey Red and its varieties soon dominated Kansas wheat production and still make up half the state's wheat crop.
When farmers plowed the prairie to plant wheat, they replaced a complex ecosystem of hundreds of plant and animal species with single-species farm crops. Lacking some of the natural buffers and hardiness of the native prairie, crops are susceptible to the many challenges of prairie life, including insects, jackrabbits (link to Jackrabbit Run panel), floods, and drought. Despite these challenges, Kansas has become America's Bread Basket. In 2016, Kansas grew over 467 million bushels of wheat, more than any other state. Along the Byway, you'll also see corn, soybeans, and sorghum (milo) under cultivation. One Kansas farmer feeds over one hundred people, exporting to many countries around the world.
Stafford County Flour Mills Co.*
In 1904, Gustav Krug founded the Hudson Milling Company, later renamed the Stafford County Flour Mills Co. Since then, the mill has turned Kansas wheat into a broad line of flours and baking mixes. Call ahead for a tour, and bring home a bit of Kansas - famous Hudson Cream Flour.
Motion and Change
During the 1930s, soil erosion and dust storms devastated prairie farms. Several new federal programs were created to tackle the problem. Local farmers worked with the Soil Conservation Service implementing the Great Plains Shelterbelt Program using Civilian Conservation Corps crews to plant shelterbelts of cedar, juniper, locust, and cottonwood to stabilize soils.
Download the interpretive panel: Cultivating America's Bread Basket located in the Hudson City Park.
To listen to more information click on the Audio Tour Track #9
Go to the Gallery to view photographs contributed by visitors to the Byway.
* Stafford County Flour Mills Co.
One of the last independent flour mills in the United States has made its home in Hudson for almost 100 years. Using a "short patent" milling process common a century ago, the mill produces a smooth flour that makes light, fluffy baked goods. The mill's products are recognized for the distinctive cow logo on their Hudson Cream Flour packaging. The mill's founder chose a Jersey cow and the word "cream" to symbolize the white richness, smooth texture, and high quality of his mill's flour. Tours are available by calling (620) 458-4121. You can also visit their web site at www.hudsoncream.com
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