1995 North Dakota Oat Varieties

July 20, 1995

PREFACE

    This publication shows results of a combination mail and telephone survey of a cross-section of North Dakota producers selected at random. Oat variety percents and acreage planted at state and agricultural statistics district levels are included. This survey was conducted in June and approximately 750 producers reported oat varieties. We would like to thank those producers who supplied varietal data, thus making this report possible.

    Collection and publication of these data were requested and funded by the Quaker Oats Company. Previous surveys were conducted in 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1991. Copies are available without charge upon request to Larry W. Beard, State Statistician, North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service, 1250 Albrecht Blvd., Suite 448, P. O. Box 3166, Fargo, ND 58108-3166; Telephone (701) 239-5306.
    

     Planting progress of small grains was three weeks behind last year and the five-year (1990-94) average pace due to above average soil moisture and below average temperatures in April and early May. Warmer temperatures and decreased precipitation allowed planting to be completed by mid-June. Warm weather and scattered precipitation across the state in June promoted good crop conditions. However, crop development was still two weeks behind average by early July.

    Otana was again the leading oat variety with 27.3 percent of the oat acres planted in 1995 after dropping to second in 1991. Dumont dropped to second with 20.5 percent in 1995. Valley was a distant third with 9.5 percent of the state's total acres planted. Newdak ranked fourth with 8.1 percent followed by Hytest at 5.6 percent. The top five varieties accounted for 71 percent of the North Dakota oat acreage.

    North Dakota farmers planted 650,000 acres of oats, down 24 percent from last year and the lowest on record. North Dakota accounted for nearly 10 percent of the nation's oat crop acres in 1995 and ranked first in production in 1994.

     Otana ranked first with 27.3 percent of the 650,000 total oat acres planted in 1995, down from 29.5 percent in 1991. Otana was also first in 1983 and 1987 and a close second in 1991. This 1977 Montana release led all varieties in the west central, southwest and south central districts of North Dakota. This variety is characterized by moderately tall height, late maturity and above average relative yield.

     Dumont ranked second with 20.5 percent, down from its 1991 first place of 30.1 percent. This 1982 Canadian release led all varieties in the northwest and north central districts of North Dakota. This variety is characterized by above average relative yield, late maturity and resistance to stem rust.

     Valley, a 1988 North Dakota release, ranked third with 9.5 percent. It moved up one position since 1991 when it was 5.9 percent. This variety led all varieties in the northeast and central districts. Valley is characterized by strong straw, late maturity, resistance to stem rust and above average relative yield.

     Newdak ranked fourth with 8.1 percent of the total oat acreage in North Dakota, up from 1.4 percent in 1991. Newdak, a 1990 North Dakota/New York release, led all varieties in the east central and southeast districts and is characterized by strong straw, medium maturity, resistance to stem rust and above average relative yield.

     Hytest ranked fifth at 5.6 percent, an increase from 2.3 percent. The 1986 South Dakota release was popular in the southwest and south central districts. Hytest is characterized by moderately tall height, early maturity and average relative yield.

     Kelsey and Troy ranked sixth and seventh with 4.5 and 3.7 percent, respectively. Steele and Harmon tied for eighth with 2.8 percent.

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