USDA reports record small oat crop

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USDA reports record small oat crop

The USDA says the 2021 U.S. oat crop was the smallest on record at 39.836 million bushels, 39% less than in 2020. That’s due to decreased planting across the oat growing region, either due to weather or producers switching to more profitable crops.

Oat futures prices have moved sharply higher recently, sparked by the smaller crop and increased global demand, which could spark an increased in planted area next year.

The average yield is pegged at 61.3 bushels per acre, compared to 65 a year ago, with harvested area falling to 650,000 acres, implying abandonment of almost 2 million acres, in-line with 2020 and 2019 rates.

Oat stocks on September 1st were 62.132 million bushels, 7% under last year, due to the recent decline in production, with quarterly usage less than half of the year ago pace at 15.8 million bushels, compared to 35.6 million a year ago. On-farm stocks were 32.15 million bushels, 19% lower, and off-farm stocks were 29.982 million bushels, 11% higher.

The USDA’s next set of supply and demand estimates is out October 12th.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: 540,000 bushels, compared to 320,000 in 2020; average yield of 90 bushels per acre, compared to 64 a year ago; harvested area of 6,000 acres, compared to 5,000 last year

Illinois: 1.245 million bushels, compared to 870,000 in 2020; average yield of 83 bushels per acre, compared to 58 a year ago; harvested area of 15,000 acres, unchanged from last year

Iowa: 4.004 million bushels, compared to 5.694 million in 2020; average yield of 77 bushels per acre, compared to 78 a year ago; harvested area of 52,000 acres, compared to 73,000 last year

Kansas: 1 million bushels, compared to 832,000 in 2020; average yield of 50 bushels per acre, compared to 52 a year ago; harvested area of 20,000 acres, compared to 16,000 last year

Michigan: record low 1.26 million bushels, compared to 1.65 million in 2020; average yield of 63 bushels per acre, compared to 55 a year ago; harvested area of 20,000 acres, compared to 30,000 last year

Minnesota: 4.389 million bushels, compared to 10.56 million in 2020; average yield of 57 bushels per acre, compared to 66 a year ago; harvested area of 77,000 acres, compared to 160,000 last year

Missouri: 900,000 bushels, compared to 430,000 in 2020; harvested area of 60 bushels per acre, compared to 43 a year ago; harvested area of 15,000 acres, compared to 10,000 last year

Nebraska: 1.456 million bushels, compared to 1.827 million in 2020; average yield of 56 bushels per acre, compared to 53 a year ago; harvested area of 26,000 acres, compared to 29,000 last year

Ohio: 1.34 million bushels, compared to 900,000 in 2020; average yield of 67 bushels per acre, compared to 60 a year ago; harvested area of 20,000 acres, compared to 15,000 last year

South Dakota: 3.752 million bushels, compared to 10.78 million in 2020; average yield of 67 bushels per acre, compared to 77 a year ago; harvested area of 56,000 acres, compared to 140,000 last year

Wisconsin: record low 3.782 million bushels, compared to 8.253 million in 2020; average yield of 62 bushels per acre, compared to 63 a year ago; harvested area of 61,000 acres, compared to 131,000 last year

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