Honeybees are also useful as pollinators. In most areas of South Dakota there is at least one bee yard within flight range of any field crop. Hard red winter wheat is planted in the fall and is harvested in mid-summer. Hard red spring and durum wheats are planted in the spring and harvested in late summer to early fall. The hard wheats grown is South Dakota make some of the world's best bread-baking flour because they are high in protein.
Wheat protein combines with liquid to form gluten, which provides the structure for baked products.
South Dakota is one of six states to grow durum wheat, which is the type used to make pasta. Corn is the food of the Americas. Ancient Central American Indian civilizations were the first to cultivate corn. In the United States it is the major foodstuff and the major agricultural export. Corn is vital to our diet.