News

Minnesota farmers get early jump on oat planting

Small grain planting is off to a fast start in Minnesota.

USDA’s latest weekly crop report says 11 percent of oats are planted, compared to nine percent normally.

Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen tells Brownfield oat seeding got underway the last week of March.

“A lot of those small grains, the farmers that do those. We are seeing kind of a resurgence in oats, especially with the new oat plant being built in Albert Lea and some of the demand there. So that’s good to see.”

Spring wheat is one percent planted, compared to the five-year average of two percent.  Barley is two percent planted.

For corn and soybean planting, the report indicates a lack of progress so far this spring.