Oats are multifaceted in the field

Three specialists provide information on oat production

Amy Hadachek
Apr 22, 2021
Apr 22, 2021 Updated Apr 23, 2021

oats in field — Oats grow in the Rodale Institute fields.
Submitted photo from Rodale Institute

Prefer us on Google

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Amy Hadachek

kAm~2ED 2C6 2 >F=E:\AFCA@D6 4C@A] %96J D6CG6 2D 7@C286[ 2 8C2:? 4C@A[ 4@G6C 4C@A @C 2 “?FCD6 4C@A” E92E 42? 96=A @E96C 7@C286D 86E 6DE23=:D965 H9:=6 3=@4<:?8 H665D]k^Am

kAm“%96 @2ED <66A H665D D>2== 2?5 D9256 E96> @FE … D@ E96 H665 42?’E 86E 3:8 2?5 AC@5F46 2?J D665[” D2:5 }:4 !@5@==[ |:5H6DE ~C82?:4 4@?DF=E2?E H:E9 #@52=6 x?DE:EFE6]k^Am

kAmu@C H665 4@?EC@=[ !@5@== DF886DED 86EE:?8 E96 @2E 4C@A :? E96 8C@F?5 62C=J[ 2D :E 4@>6D FA 72DE]k^Am

kAm%96 4C@A 2=D@ AC@G:56D 25565 7@C286 7@C E92E 7:CDE 4FEE:?8 @7 ?6H 2=72=72] #65 4=@G6C 42? 2=D@ 36 6DE23=:D965 :? E96 D2>6 H2J]k^Am

kAm%96 9:896C @2E\AC@5F4:?8 DE2E6D :?4=F56 x@H2[ |:??6D@E2[ }@CE9 s2<@E2[ $@FE9 s2<@E2[ 2?5 ?@H :?E@ r2?252]k^Am

kAm!C@5F4E:@? 92D D9:7E65 7FCE96C ?@CE9 5F6 E@ 4=:>2E:4 492?86D] %96 4C@A 5@?’E E@=6C2E6 >F49 962E 7@C E@@ >2?J 52JD :? 2 C@H[ 2?5 :7 :E 5@6D?’E 4@@= 5@H? 6?@F89 2E ?:89E[ E92E 4C62E6D :DDF6D H:E9 7:==:?8 8C2:? AC@A6C=J[ 2D H6== 2D 4C@H? CFDE 4@?46C?D] (2C> 2?5 >F88J ?:89ED 2C6 325 7@C @2ED]k^Am

kAm“|J 525 2?5 >J F?4=6 2=H2JD E2=< 23@FE 9@H ?:46 :E H2D E@ 8C@H @2ED 324< :? E96 `he_D H96? :E 8@E 5@H? :?E@ E96 d_D 2E ?:89E[” !@5@== D2:5] “qFE ?@H[ ?:89ED D66> E@ 86E 5@H? :?E@ E96 f_D 2?5 :E’D >@C6 9F>:5[ 2?5 E92E :D E@F89 :? D@FE96C? }@CE9 s2<@E2]”k^Am

kAmz2?D2D 2?5 }63C2D<2 72C>6CD 8C@H @2ED[ 2=E9@F89 2?@E96C 4@G6C 4C@A DA64:2=:DE 28C66D $@FE9 s2<@E2 :D 2 DH66E DA@E 7@C @2ED]k^Am

kAm“%96J’G6 5@?6 2 =@E @7 C6D62C49 2?5 2C6 E96 =6256C @7 @2ED FA E96C6[” D2:5 z6:E9 q6C?D[ H9@ 4@\@H?D vC66? r@G6C $665 :? q=256?[ }63C2D<2[ H:E9 9:D 3C@E96C qC:2?]k^Am

kAm$@FE9 s2<@E2 C2?<65 7:CDE :? @2E AC@5F4E:@? =2DE J62C[ AC@5F4:?8 2? 6DE:>2E65 `_]fg >:==:@? 3FD96=D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= p8C:4F=EFC2= $E2E:DE:4D $6CG:46] |:??6D@E2 H2D D64@?5[ 7@==@H65 3J (:D4@?D:?[ }@CE9 s2<@E2 2?5 x@H2]k^Am

Oats cover crop — Organic no-till oats are seeded into a roller-crimped hairy vetch cover crop. Oats are increasing in popularity, especially as a cover crop.
Submitted photo from Rodale Institute

kAm|@DE @7 E96 @2E>62= @2ED 4@>6 7C@> E96 s2<@E2D 2?5 r2?252] u@C @2E>62=[ E96J H2?E 2 56?D6[ 962GJ @2E[ H9:49 :D 92C5 E@ 86E E92E 9:89 2 E6DE H6:89E :? E96 D@FE9] |@DE @2ED 8C@H? 7FCE96C D@FE9 2C6 FD65 7@C =:G6DE@4< 7665]k^Am

kAm“vC@H:?8 @2ED :? E96 46?EC2= !=2:?D >:89E ?@E 36 2D 8@@5 2D E96 s2<@E2D[ 3FE :E’D ?@E :>A@DD:3=6[” q6C?D D2:5]k^Am

kAm~FE @7 E96 e_[___ E@ f_[___ 3FD96=D @7 @2ED vC66? r@G6C $665 D6==D 6249 J62C[ hdT 2C6?’E A=2?E65 E@ 7@C 8C2:?] %96J’C6 8C@H? 6:E96C 7@C 4@G6C 4C@AD @C 7@C286[ 244@C5:?8 E@ q6C?D]k^Am

kAmpD 2 4@G6C 4C@A @2ED 96=A :>AC@G6 D@:=[ ?FCEFC:?8 2?5 DFAA@CE:?8 E96 >J4@CC9:K2= 7F?8: H9:49 96=A ?FEC:6?ED 2?5 H2E6C 6IE6?5 72C :?E@ E96 D@:=]k^Am

kAmq6C?D EJA:42==J C64@>>6?5D A=2?E:?8 @2ED H:E9:? 2 >:I] ~2ED 2?5 A62D 8@ H6== E@86E96C[ @C H:E9 =6?E:=D[ DF?7=@H6CD 2?5 4@==2C5D]k^Am

Oats grain — Welter Seed & Honey Co. organic oat seed
Submitted photo from Rodale Institute

kAmx7 J@F’C6 8C@H:?8 @2ED 7@C 8C2:? AC@5F4E:@?[ E96? 962E :D 2 3:8 562=] %@@ >F49 2E E96 HC@?8 E:>6 H:== C62==J 9FCE 8C2:? J:6=5 2?5 E6DE H6:89E[ q6C?D D2:5] w62E :D ?@E ?62C=J 2D >F49 @7 2 724E@C :? @2ED 7@C 7@C286 AC@5F4E:@?[ 2D E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 G686E2E:G6 3:@>2DD :D 8C@H? 367@C6 E96 962E @7 E96 DF>>6C]k^Am

People are also reading…

Screwworm spreads into 4 more counties
Wheat crop off to a rough start to the 2026 growing season
Monitor water sources to protect herd health
Beet stands come through cold, windy spring
Iowa Barn Foundation showcases ag heritage
Revamped program offers one-year contract for cover crops
Love Letters from a Farmer
What cattle producers need to know about New World screwworm
What can I do about drought, minerals, and fly control for cattle?
Montana Department of Livestock and MSU Extension issue guidance after New World screwworm detected in Texas
Lewistown native shares his passion for agriculture
Farmers make replant decisions
Spirit of ’76 tractor carries deep symbolism for South Dakota farm family
Meaningful work
Manage small acreage pastures before, after drought

kAm%96 r6?EC2= !=2:?D 92D EH@ @2E D62D@?D[ 7C@> u63CF2CJ E@ pAC:= 2?5 yF=J E@ $6AE6>36C]k^Am

kAmx7 A=2?E:?8 @2ED :? =2E6 DF>>6C[ q6C?D D2:5 3=24< @2E H:== 36 >@C6 H:?E6C\92C5J]k^Am

kAm“%96 62C=:6C J@F 42? A=2?E[ E96 36EE6C] *@F 92G6 2 36EE6C 492?46 H96? :E’D ?@E 2D 9@E H9:=6 :E’D ECJ:?8 E@ 7=@H6C @C 9625 7:==[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm!=2?E 2D D@@? 2D E96 D@:= E6>A6C2EFC6 86ED :?E@ E96 =@H c_D[ FDF2==J :? |2C49]k^Am

kAm|2?28:?8 76CE:=:EJ :D 2=D@ :>A@CE2?E] tI46DD ?:EC@86? 42? 56=2J E96 G686E2E:G6 DE2E6[ !@5@== D2:5] xE H@?’E 7=@H6C[ 56=2J:?8 8C2:? 7:==:?8[ 2?5 E96C6 C:D< @7 4FEE:?8 J:6=5D]k^Am

kAm(:E9 7@C286 AC@5F4E:@?[ >@C6 ?:EC@86? :D 36EE6C[ 3FE E@@ >F49 4@F=5 4@?G6CE :?E@ G686E2E:@?[ >2<:?8 @2ED 8C@H E2==6C 2?5 962G:6C 2?5 42FD:?8 E96> E@ 72== @G6C]k^Am

Oats research — Oats grow in the Rodale Institute greenhouse to be used for research.
Submitted photo from Rodale Institute

kAmxE E2<6D 92=7 E96 >@:DEFC6 E@ 8C@H @2ED 2D 2 7@C286 4C@A E92? 2 8C2:? 4C@A]k^Am

kAm~?6 >2:? 492==6?86 H:E9 @2ED :D 4C@H? CFDE 5:D62D6[ H9:49 42? C65F46 J:6=5D]k^Am

kAm“rC@H? CFDE ?665D E@ 36 <:==65 H:E9 2 7F?8:4:56[ 9@H6G6C[ :? @C82?:4 DJDE6>D[ H6’C6 C6=J:?8 @? E96 A=2?E E@ 92G6 C6D:DE2?46[” D2:5 !@5@==[ H9@ C64@>>6?5D D6=64E:?8 2 G2C:6EJ E92E 92D 8@@5 C6D:DE2?46 E@ 4C@H? CFDE]k^Am

kAm!@5@== 8C6H FA @? 9:D 72>:=J’D @C82?:4 D>2== 8C2:?D 2?5 G686E23=6 72C> :? D@FE962DE6C? }@CE9 s2<@E2[ H96C6 96 2DD:DE65 9:D 72E96C 2?5 F?4=6 H:E9 G2C:6EJ EC:2=D @7 @2ED @? E96:C 72C>]k^Am

Oats chart.JPG — Minnesota had the largest number of oat acres harvested for grain in 2020, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistic Service. South Dakota ranked first in bushels produced.
Submitted image

kAm“~C82?:4 72C>:?8 :D 2== x’G6 5@?6[” D2:5 E96 bd\J62C\@=5]k^Am

kAmw:D 72G@C:E6 @2E G2C:6EJ :D $255=6] xE’D 8@@5 8C2:? AC@5F4E:@?[ 96 D2:5 3642FD6 :E 5@6D?’E 8C@H 2D E2== 2D @E96C G2C:6E:6D[ DE2?5D FA H6== 2?5 :D 62D:6C E@ AFE E9C@F89 E96 4@>3:?6]k^Am

kAmv@=:2E9[ 36:?8 E2== 2?5 =627J H:E9 2 =@E @7 3:@>2DD[ :D >@C6 @7 2 7@C286 4C@A 7@C 32=:?8 @C D:=286] xE H:== AC@5F46 8@@5 @2ED H:E9 5646?E 4C@H? CFDE C6D:DE2?46[ !@5@== D2:5[ 3FE :E 8C@HD E2==] x7 :E’D C2:D65 7@C 8C2:? 2?5 86ED H6E[ :E H:== 72== @G6C 2?5 42FD6 =@58:?8]k^Am

kAm“w2J56?[ 2?@E96C @2E[ @C:8:?2E65 :? $@FE9 s2<@E2] uC@> DEF5:6D !@5@== 92D D66?[ :E 92D 2 5646?E C6D:DE2?46 E@ 4C@H? CFDE 2?5 :D 2 “AC6EEJ D@=:5” @AE:@?]k^Am

kAm!@=2?D<J $665[ 2 72>:=J\@H?65 4@>A2?J 46=63C2E:?8 g_ J62CD :? q6==6G:==6[ z2?D2D[ 92D 2 D665 4=62?:?8 724:=:EJ 2?5 5C:==D `[___ AC@5F4E:@? 24C6D 7@C 46CE:7:65 D665 @2ED] %96J’G6 D66? @2ED 364@>6 >@C6 A@AF=2C :? C646?E J62CD[ 6DA64:2==J 2D 2 4@G6C 4C@A]k^Am

kAmxE’D 2? 2==\2C@F?5 8@@5 28C@?@>:4 AC@DA64E :? E96 DAC:?8[ D2:5 !@=2?D<J @A6C2E:@?D >2?286C qC6EE vC2F6C9@K] %96J 42? 36 FD65 367@C6 C@H 4C@AD[ 2?5 D@>6 >@C6 AC@8C6DD:G6 4@G6C 4C@AA6CD :?E6C4656 :E H:E9:? D@J362?D 2?5 4@C?]k^Am

Download PDF

Harvested oat acres are shown by county using 2019 data. Darker green areas produce more oats. Submitted image from the UDSA NASS

kAm“(96? J@F =@@< 2E E96 AC2:C:6D[” vC2F6C9@=K D2:5[ “|@E96C }2EFC6 <66AD D@>6E9:?8 8C@H:?8 J62C\C@F?5[ 2?5 2D H6 ECJ E@ C6A=:42E6 E92E[ @2ED 2C6 364@>:?8 >@C6 @7 2 DE2A=6]”k^Am

Reporter Amy Hadachek is a two-time Emmy Award winning meteorologist and a storm chaser who earned her NWA and AMS Broadcast Meteorology Seals of Approval. She and her husband live on a diversified farm in Kansas. Reach her at amy.hadachek@midwestmessenger.com.