Forage oats is the preferred winter forage crop for beef and dairy cattle in Queensland, due to its ability to produce good- quality feed when most pastures are dormant. Many farmers rely on oats to fatten livestock during the period from autumn to early spring.

EverLeaf® Forage Oats are a spring oat developed as a true forage variety. Everleaf Forage Oats will be taller and much leafier than other varieties of oats and produce high levels of dry matter yield if planted for forage production.

nitrogen fertilizer Apply nitrogen fertilizer as needed after emergence. If no soil test is available, apply 300 lbs. of 13-13-13 or equivalent at planting and follow every 45 days with 150 lbs. of 34-0-0 or equivalent.

MonsterBuck Forage Seed Oats Germination rate: 5-7 days Planting schedule:...

60-75 days Oats are a useful addition to a rotation because they produce a high volume of biomass (2-6 tons of dry matter per acre under good conditions) in a short time (60-75 days), and grow best in cool, moist conditions.

Dehulled oats or naked oats significantly improves feed value and palatability since they are well suited for poultry, horses, piglets, and lactating cows due to their high energy content.

Forage crops are grown specifically for grazing by livestock or harvested to help make up seasonal shortfalls between feed demand and supply. They form a vital part of livestock production.

Grain crops may be fed or sold although most forage crops are stored and used on farm for feed. Long term grain producers have seen almost every pest or disease that impacts grain crops and may believe there is nothing new to learn.

High oat yields require large quantities of available plant nutrients. For example, each bushel of oats will take up approximately 1.3 lb nitrogen, 0.4 lb phosphorus (P2Os), and 1.2 lb potassium (K2O) per acre.

As a general rule, 40 to 100 kg/ha of nitrogen should be sufficient, applied in bands no more than twice that of the intended planting row spacing. Nitrogen can also be broadcast in front of the planter and incorporated at planting, or it can be banded at planting below and to the side of the seed.

Soil Temperature – Oat seeds will germinate at 40° F. However, like most plants, oats will germinate faster as soil temps increase, the goal is to balance an early planting date with biological limitations and the potential for seed predation or pathogen issues.

Usually, oats can be harvested about 12 weeks after they are planted. In areas where weeds are prevalent, it may be beneficial to swath, or cut, the crop before combining. Weeds will certainly make harvesting more difficult, and the weed seeds and chaff can be difficult to separate from the oats.