At least thirteen species make up the classification tables for oats, but the one most
cultivated is the common oat – all 146 varieties of it. Early civilizations believed oats
were contaminated wheat, but cultivation moved forward once it was recognized as a
separate grain. Oats have a higher tolerance level for rain than other major grains, and
require fewer hot summer days. These attributes likely contributed to the widespread
cultivation of oats across more temperate growing regions.

The following chart illustrates this in the top five producers:

Imports and exports for the 2008 & 2009 marketing year are as follows:


Oat acreage in the United States has been on the decline since the beginning of the last
century. This may coincide with the fact that oats were often used as a feed grain for
horses. As the number of horses within the United States declined after the introduction
of the automobile, the need for oats may have dropped as a result. The drop can be
illustrated as follows:

Alternately, the demand for other cereal grains may have been a contributing factor.
Either way, the projected net return for an acre of oats is well below that of the other
major planted grains, according to the USDA’s projections.



Oats are normally sown early in the spring or summer, since they are tolerant of cold, late
frosts, and snow. The grain will normally go dormant in the summer heat. According to
the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board’s 1997 report, the usual planting time for oats in
the top five producing states is between April and May. The harvest period usually
extends from July through the beginning of August.

Like some other grains, oats have fertilizer and other input requirements. After
harvesting, oats are cleaned, sorted, de-hulled, and then finished by either flaking or
milling.