Sowing Your Oats

Sowing Your Oats

Rick Worthington
Rick Worthington
Increasingly farmers are discovering that sowing their oats is yielding economic as well as other benefits.

Eric Madsen has been farming for decades and says he has moved to growing oatsas a third crop because of how easy it is to produce.

Madsen says he is surprised more farmers don't do the same.

In an effort to diversify, improve soil and water conservation, and add a cost-efficient third crop, farmers such as Madsen have found oats to be a natural choice. The so-called "input costs" of planting oats are less than half of what it costs to plant corn. Oats also grow exceedingly well in states that have a difficult growing climate.

Madsen says, it's proved to be a good time to return to the historic crop.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports harvested oat acres recently have risen. In a tough farm economy, Madsen says a diversified operation creates more income streams while protecting the environment.

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