Photo: Prairie Oat Growers Assoc.

Five tips for a successful oat crop

Oats is a small-acre crop that has tended to fall behind in terms of agronomy research. That’s changing as more oat varieties become available and new niche markets continue to develop and offer premiums to growers meeting their specifications. For anyone trying oats for the first time, or considering adding oats to their rotation, soak […] Read more


(Doug Wilson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Oats’ buyers, sellers far apart on price

CNS Canada — Farmers with oats to sell and end-users willing to buy them are far apart in terms of price right now, limiting how much business is actually taking place. Major U.S. customers are well covered for the time being, “with enough to last for a few months worth of milling,” said Ryan McKnight […] Read more

Apple Honey Oatmeal and Chocolate Oat Clusters. 


What’s more Canadian than a bowl of porridge?

Prairie Palate: Canada is the second-largest oats producer and the largest exporter and they were a staple for pioneers

I started my day with a bowl of oatmeal porridge. Nothing could be more Canadian. We grow more oats in Canada than anywhere else but Russia. Canada is the second-largest producer — and the largest exporter — of oats in the world. Mountains of our oats are turned into brand-name breakfast cereals, oatmeal cookies and […] Read more


Shawna Mathieson is the executive director of the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA), which is working to develop new markets for Canadian oats.

Oat acreage forecast up

Price and disease a big factor in pushing oat acres across the Prairies

Around 2.9 million acres of oats were planted across Canada in 2015 according to Statistics Canada, and although acres have been dropping over the past few years, oat production will likely be up by more than 10 per cent this spring to around 3.3 million tonnes. Last year, the majority of those acres were planted […] Read more

Oats steady and low, but price-wise the worst is over

Manitoba’s oat market is sitting low and stagnant, but since the commodity traditionally tracks corn futures, prices aren’t likely to depreciate further, says a U.S. analyst. “I think Manitoba farmers were expecting a lot better and Saskatchewan farmers were expecting a lot worse, but really when the combines got in the field—you know everything was […] Read more


(Doug Wilson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Oat prices remain under pressure

CNS Canada –– Oat prices continue having trouble breaking through key resistance figures as harvest winds down across the Prairies. “They’re (prices) below what farmers like… having trouble breaking that $3 a bushel level in Manitoba and $2.50 in Saskatchewan,” said Ryan McKnight of Linear Grain at Carman, Man. So far, he said, very few […] Read more



(AvenaFoods.com)

Gluten-free claim allowed on some oat products

Celiac sufferers needing foods free of gluten will now be able to get certain oat products with a “gluten-free” claim. Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose on Friday announced the allowed claim for oat products that are produced and processed to avoid cross-contamination by gluten from other cereals’ grains and products. Celiac disease, a hereditary condition, […] Read more

(Doug Wilson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Big oats intentions surprise market

CNS Canada — A surprisingly large increase for oats acres in Statistics Canada’s planting intentions report on Thursday led to a quick drop in prices. However, actual area will likely come in below the early expectations, as declining prices should cause some acres to shift elsewhere. Oats plantings were pegged at 3.6 million acres by […] Read more