When you purchase wheat for your family's storage, make sure you ask the supplier what the protein and moisture content of the wheat is. If they don't know the answer to those two questions, find another supplier. If they don't know what they have, that means they have not done their homework!
For bread making, make sure that the protein content is no lower than 14%. Bakeries in the United States do not accept anything beneath that percentage, and neither should you. Remember that the level of protein in the wheat berry is directly related to the amount of gluten that you will have in your bread doughs.
There are too many of us who have thousands of pounds of wheat with 12% or less protein. Although it is usable, it will not provide the quality loaf, for the home baker, that a higher protein wheat will. From this point forward, demand high protein wheat for your family. To settle for less because you will save a few pennies per pound is not sound wisdom. Remember, you are providing food for the most important people in the world.
Wheat processors go to great lengths to ensure that grains have been dried to low percentages. After all, it is not harvested storage ready. If you store wheat with too high a moisture content, you are asking for trouble from a shortened shelf life, to bacterial growth, to mold and bugs. The moisture content of your wheat should ideally be at 9%.
There are so many varieties of wheat to consider. I will focus on just a few that are most common to those who keep food storage.
A question that I am commonly asked is what is the difference between Red Wheat and White Wheat.
Red wheat is darker in color than white wheat. Red has tannic acid in the outer layers ( bran) of the kernel. The tannic acid has a slightly bitter flavor. Flour made from ground red wheat has a stronger wheatier flavor.
White wheat is lighter in color due to the absence of tannic acid. It has a sweeter, more mellow flavor.
Different people prefer different flavors and textures. Having said that, I have not met a person yet who does not fall in love with white wheat once they have had the chance to compare the two.
When considering all of the grains that you need to store for your family, make sure that you have a good wheat foundation and then build on that with other grains.