2017-2018 Multi-State Organic Oat Variety Trial Results - SDSU Extension Publication

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Mia

Tight agricultural production margins increase interest in growing organic oats, and this publication summarizes results from a 2017–2018 multi-state organic oat variety performance trial. Twenty oat varieties were tested across Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin to provide variety performance data and management guidance. Agronomic traits, grain quality, test weights, and crown rust resistance are reported, alongside yield outcomes, yield stability considerations, and interpretation of statistical measures such as LSD and CV.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

2017-2018 Multi-State Organic Oat Performance Trial Highlights

Trial design and locations

Agronomic traits and grain quality tables

Yield results and top-performing varieties

Variety selection factors for organic production

Interpreting LSD and coefficient of variation (CV)

Funding and participating farmers

Results tables

Table 1. Variety list and crown rust ratings

agronomy MAY 2019 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY ® AGRONOMY, HORTICULTURE, & PLANT SCIENCE DEPARTMENT South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station at SDSU 2017-2018 Multi-State Organic Oat Variety Trial Results Melanie Caffe-Treml, Ph. D. | Oat Breeder, South Dakota State University Lucia Guiterrez, Ph. D. | Oat Breeder, University of Wisconsin Kevin P. Smith, Ph. D. | Oat and Barley Breeder, University of Minnesota Jonathan Kleinjan, Ph. D. | SDSU Extension Crop Production Associate SDSU Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer in accordance with the nondiscrimination policies of South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents and the United States Department of Agriculture . 2017-2018 Multi-State Organic Oat Performance Trial Highlights The tight production margins currently present in agriculture have increased interest in growing organic oats. Oats can be a good crop for a beginning organic producer because the crop provides good early season growth to compete with weeds. In order to provide producers with oat performance data, twenty oat varieties were tested in three locations across Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin in 2017-2018. Results are summarized in this publication. Important management considerations for organic oat production, other than variety selection, have been summarized in an online extension article from University of Minnesota Extension which can be found at: [https://extension. umn.edu/small-grains](https://extension. umn.edu/small-grains)crop-and-variety-selection/organic-oat-production. Agronomic characteristics such as maturity ratings, lodging scores and crown rust resistance for the varieties used in this trial are summarized in Table 1. Several grain quality and milling characteristics are summarized in Table 2. Average test weights for the trials are summarized in Table 3. Oat yields in the multi-state organic oat trials averaged 71 bu/acre in 2017-2018, ranging from 60 bu/acre at Lamberton, MN (2018) to 102 bu/acre at Evansville, WI (2017) (Table 4) . Varieties that were statistically in the top yield group include Betagene, Deon, Saddle, and Goliath. There was a 37 bu/acre difference between the best and worst performing variety in the trial. If one assumes a price of $5 .25/bu, that equates of a revenue difference of $194.25 per acre. Producers need to consider several factors other than yield performance when selecting suitable oat varieties for organic production. Because conventional fungicides can’t be applied in organic production, it is recommended to choose a cultivar resistant to crown rust. In susceptible cultivars, infection with crown rust can cause severe yield loss and significantly reduce test weight and grain quality. Antigo, Deon, Leggett, Saddle and Sumo are cultivars with good levels of resistance to crown rust (Table 1) . Test weight is also a very important consideration and highly variety-dependent. Grain specifications for organic food grade oats include a minimum test weight and a maximum proportion of thin kernels. Varieties which exhibited excellent test weight included Antigo and Sumo. Fan speed can be increased on the combine to increase test weight. It is usually recommended to consider as much performance information as possible when selecting a variety and to give more weight to information from trials close to home, as some varieties may be better suited to certain geographic areas. Also pay close attention to relative performance over many locations. This type of performance is an indication of yield stability. Performance over multiple years is also very important. Growing conditions in a single season may favor certain varieties and provide a poor representation of yield potential over time. It is important to remember that varieties may differ by 5 bu/acre or even more and still be statistically similar. This is due to inherent variability in the environment and the yield testing process. V

FAQs

How were the organic oat varieties tested in 2017–2018?

Twenty oat varieties were tested in three locations across Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin during 2017–2018, and results are summarized in the publication.

Which factors besides yield should be considered when selecting oat varieties for organic production?

The document highlights crown rust resistance, since conventional fungicides cannot be applied in organic production, and also emphasizes grain test weight and milling-related quality measures.

What do LSD and CV mean for interpreting variety differences?

LSD (least significant difference) helps determine whether varieties differ statistically from the top performer, while CV is a relative measure of test variability; lower CV generally indicates better-quality data for detecting true differences.

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Mia