Summer planted oats . . . Summer planted oats . . . these can’t be the ones these can’t be the ones

Grandpa grew!Grandpa grew!

Stan SmithStan SmithOSU Extension-Fairfield CountyOSU Extension-Fairfield CountyTri-County Cattlemen’s MeetingTri-County Cattlemen’s Meeting

July 10, 2007July 10, 2007

11stst . . . forget everything you thought you . . . forget everything you thought you knew about oats!!!knew about oats!!!

Repeat after me . . .Repeat after me . . .

These are NOT a grain crop . . .These are NOT a grain crop . . .

What you thought you knew . . . isn’t!What you thought you knew . . . isn’t!

Could oats be our most Could oats be our most productive FORAGE?productive FORAGE?

Late planted oats = forageLate planted oats = forageIf they can’t make seed, they remain If they can’t make seed, they remain

vegetativevegetativePlant after the equinox, up til early SeptemberPlant after the equinox, up til early SeptemberPlant 64 to 120 poundsPlant 64 to 120 poundsPlant the cheapest oats you can findPlant the cheapest oats you can findNo-til, lightly til, broadcastNo-til, lightly til, broadcastMix in turnips, ryegrass, cereal rye?Mix in turnips, ryegrass, cereal rye?Fertilize?Fertilize?Multiple grazings and/or harvests?Multiple grazings and/or harvests?

Let’s look at the costsLet’s look at the costs

100 pounds of oats @ .15 = $15100 pounds of oats @ .15 = $15 PlantingPlanting

No-til, $15 / acreNo-til, $15 / acre Aerial seeding, $10 - $12Aerial seeding, $10 - $12

Fertilizer, ~ 18-50 units of N @ 50 centsFertilizer, ~ 18-50 units of N @ 50 cents P & K removal = 14 lbs P, 50 lbs KP & K removal = 14 lbs P, 50 lbs K Total costs = < $45/acre + $15/T (P&K)Total costs = < $45/acre + $15/T (P&K) Yield = 0.5 to 7 ton/ac of HIGH QUALITY feed!Yield = 0.5 to 7 ton/ac of HIGH QUALITY feed!

Let’s look at the qualityLet’s look at the quality

% crude protein% crude protein

Sample DateSample Date OatsOats FescueFescue

11/19/0211/19/02 18.1318.13 8.658.65

12/31/0212/31/02 14.7314.73 11.4011.40

1/23/031/23/03 13.3513.35 9.229.22

3/11/033/11/03 11.1211.12 8.198.19

Flown 8/26/03, photo 9/23/03Flown 8/26/03, photo 9/23/03

80 pounds of Armour seed oats

Flown 8/26/03, photo 11/10/03Flown 8/26/03, photo 11/10/03

80 pounds of Armour oats into standing corn, total cost $21.98, corn harvested 10/25.03,

660 lbs to 1604 lbs of oat tonnage

Flown 8/23/05, photo 9/4/05Flown 8/23/05, photo 9/4/05

100 pounds oats flown onto standing corn, Katrina, cost $23

Flown 8/23/05, photo 9/23/05Flown 8/23/05, photo 9/23/05

100 pounds oats onto standing corn, Katrina, 0.3 T @ $23

Flown 8/23/05, photo 9/23/05Flown 8/23/05, photo 9/23/05

100 pounds oats onto standing corn, Katrina, silage harvested, 0.7 T @ $23

Flown 8/23/05, photo 10/24/05Flown 8/23/05, photo 10/24/05

100 pounds oats onto standing corn, Katrina, silage harvested, 1.6 T @ $23

Let’s look at the dataLet’s look at the dataSpecieSpecie

lbs/aclbs/acSeeding Seeding methodmethod

DateDate FertilizerFertilizer CostCost YieldYield

Bin run Bin run oats, 80 oats, 80 lb lb

No-til No-til after after wheatwheat

8/5/028/5/02 90 lbs 90 lbs ureaurea

$41.5$41.555

4.5 – 5.5 4.5 – 5.5 tonton

Bin run Bin run oats, 80 oats, 80 lblb

No-til No-til after after wheatwheat

8/14/08/14/033

6000 gal. 6000 gal. hog hog manuremanure

$23.4$23.400

3800-4200 3800-4200 lbslbs

Bin run Bin run oats, 80 oats, 80 lblb

No-til No-til after after wheatwheat

8/15/08/15/033

70 lbs 70 lbs ureaurea

$38.2$38.200

1 – 1.5 ton1 – 1.5 ton

Cert oats, Cert oats, treated, treated, 8080

Cons. Til Cons. Til after after wheatwheat

8/20/08/20/033

90 lbs 90 lbs ureaurea

$46.9$46.900

1.5 – 2 ton1.5 – 2 ton

Cert oats, Cert oats, treated, treated, 8080

No-til No-til after after wheatwheat

8/20/08/20/033

90 lbs 90 lbs ureaurea

$40.9$40.900

.5 – 1 ton.5 – 1 ton

Cert oats, Cert oats, treated, treated, 8080

Aerial into Aerial into corncorn

9/5/039/5/03 00 $21.9$21.988

600-1600 600-1600 lbs, plus lbs, plus fodder fodder

Rye, 100 Rye, 100 lbslbs

Aerial into Aerial into corncorn

9/5/039/5/03 00 $26.5$26.555

500-1000 500-1000 lbs, plus lbs, plus fodderfodder

Grazed all winter . . . Grazed all winter . . .

Grazed all winter . . . Grazed all winter . . .

11.18 % protein

Grazed all winter, calving late March Grazed all winter, calving late March

No-tilled into wheat stubble 7/10/06No-tilled into wheat stubble 7/10/06

Photo 9/23/06, seeded with 2 bu. of feed oats, 27 lbs N, baled ~ 7 tons of 15+ % protein forage dry matter 10/1/06

Just do it! Basic concepts . Just do it! Basic concepts . . .. .

Made successful thru aggressive Made successful thru aggressive management!management!