Oats were once a major Minnesota crop, with about 4 million acres planted annually on average until the early 1960s. But in 2025, oats accounted for only 195,000 planted acres in Minnesota, and those oats were used mostly for livestock feed and straw bedding. Meanwhile, corn planted in 2025 covered more than eight million acres in the state.
Opportunity knocks for oats
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Oats grow at the University of Minnesota test plots.
University of Minnesota-Extension educator Mary Nesberg has hosted several events for small-grains producers, where she says she enjoys connecting with them to share resources and learn from their experiences.
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