When to swath oats? How do I know when.

Dave from MN · Jul 29, 2008

OK, my oats, albiet a bit short in places, had headed out quite nice and I am pretty sure Ithey are very close to being ready to knock down and combine. Greenhorn on oats question. How do I know when they are ready to knock down?

Michael Soldan · Jul 29, 2008

Dave, swathing oats is very forgiving, they will dry up and be ready on the ground with a few days of good weather..when you squeeze the oat and it feels "full" and the head looks complete it is likely close. Pick a few oats and squeeze them with you fingernail..if they are really mushy and oozy a few more days won't hurt, but like I said swathing is forgiving in terms of getting them dry enough to combine...years ago we used to cut with a binder and stook the sheaves..they would stand for a week or two before they were all threshed and they would be ready. If the field looks ripe in terms of colour go for it!..Good Luck!

IaGary · Jul 29, 2008

You should not be able to see any green what so ever in the straw.

Or the best way would be to shell some out by hand and have it tested for moisture.

I am guessing you would want it under 15% moisture to swath.

13% or lower at combining to store in a bin.

Gary

Anonymous-0 · Jul 29, 2008

As your field of oats starts to transform from green to that golden stage, check the actual hull of the oat to see that it has filled out. This means; in its growth stage, the hull will encompass the "milk" in the early stage, then to the "dough" in the late stage, to a full and more firm kernel. You should cut the oats at the stage of when the "dough" starts to firm up or harden. If you wait to late, the oats will shatter or seperate from the plant as you cut and swath. Also, you want to cut it early enough to prevent the plants from lodging as a result of the heavy oat heads, winds and rain. Pending varity, most oats are shatter and lodge resistant, but heavy winds and rains will knock the crop down making it difficult to cut and will decrease yield and quality. Have Fun!!!! Good oat crops in the North West should yield in a range of 80 to 130 bushels to the acre depending on soil conditions, moisture and average temperature.

paul · Jul 29, 2008

This will be a tough week to do anything, if the weatherman is right.

Typically the hills are real dry, the low spots are a tad of green still showing but mostly straw colored, and time to roll.

--->Paul

VADAVE · Jul 29, 2008

Let me add a little. I've not grown oats but with Gary saying 13 - 15% testing is going to be like wheat.
Pull a head and rub it between your hands to shell, then place a kernel between your teeth and bite. If it cracks or "pops" it's ready if it just smashes let stand longer. When it cracks the grain will be 13 - 15% or lower. The harder it cracks the drier.

Dave from MN · Jul 29, 2008

This humidity sucks Just came in from welding soe cracks on a gravity box. I'm a sweating mess and it want that hard. I recieved 1/4" rain last night, I really, really need it for the beans and corn. My rye is still standing, they guy that is gonna swath it is still having trouble keeping his machine running. I think it is a float dirt in the carb issue. I cant wait to much longer. If the good Lord could just send 1" rain on my row crops I'd be a happy boy.

paul · Jul 29, 2008

Ah - we have puddles down here in southern MN. Getting kinda tired of the rains. Had 2.2 a week ago on my clay, & several rains since.

Yesterday the wind died, humidity came up, was like a cow sat on a person!

--->Paul

LenND · Jul 29, 2008

It's been a few years since we raised oats but we always swath and combined. Oats can be swathed a little on the green side and will ripen out real good after a few hot days. Texas, California and the southwest states love our N. Dak. 48 pound oats for their horses.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 29, 2008

I have to disagree with most on this. Since the oat is very vulnerable to falling off when it is ripe I always swath it when it is a little green. It will ripen in the swath after laying for only a couple days weather permitting.

Gordy in Mn. · Jul 29, 2008

We cut our oats today with a binder and shocked about a third of it in the extrime heat. Will finish tomorrow in the cool morning. We are doing this at the Dakota County Fair and will thrash it on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of August. We only have 5 acres so isn't that bad, oh by the way we are located in Farmington, Mn. Gordy

Mn Dave · Jul 30, 2008

If this is Gordy P. then I didn't think you worked that hard, but if it isn't Gordy P. then forgive my smart mouth. This is Dave P. from Le Sueur.

When to swath oats? How do I know when.

Dave from MN

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Michael Soldan

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IaGary

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Anonymous-0

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paul

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Dave from MN

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