GROWING OATS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXII, Issue 19, 11 March 1941, Page 6

GROWING OATS

THE CROP IN NEW ZEALAND

USES AND VALUES OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES

The current issue of the Agricultural Bulletin contains some very useful information regarding one of the Dominion's most important cereals, oats. It deals with the different varieties and the purposes for which they are best suited and is altogether an excellent summary of the usefulness of this crop. The text, which has been prepared by the Canterbury Agricultural College for the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce is as follows:

Despite '.the marked reduction in area which the introduction of tractors and motor transport has brought about during the past twenty years, the oat crop is still one of the major arable crops in New Zealand where it serves three main purposes. The greater portion of the crop is converted into chaff, the proportion threshed for grain depending on the condition of the crop, the feed supply and market conditions; while the area grown for green feed is small but has shown a definite increase during the past ten years. The standard varieties are Algerian, Garten's Abundance and Dun. Of the total area under oats, about 90 per cent is grown in Canterbury, Otago and Southland. The following table-gives five year average areas for grain, green feed and chaff and indicates the trends in oat growing since 1920.

feed and not for crop need not be I pickled. It is well known that new season's Algerian Oats do not germinate well when sown in February or March. This has been found to be 1 associated with the natural dormancy of the newly harvested seed in the relatively high temperatures existing at that time. By April or May soil temperatures are lower and satisfactory germination can be obtained. In order to avoid low germination it is necessary to use old-season's Algerians for February or March sowing. Crops which are intended primarily for seed should be sown in April or May for autumn varieties and in August or September for spring varieties. The land should be in good heart and well prepared as good yields cannot be expected from hastily prepared and exhausted soils. If the crop is well

Period . Grain Greenfeed Chaff Total Area 1920-25 134,500 acres 20,300 acres 338,200 acres 493,000 acres 1925-30 89,700 acres 17,600 acres 217,300 acres 324,600 acres 1930-35 80,500 acres 60,500 acres 230,400 acres 371,400 acres 1935-39 66,100 acres 55,000 acres 190,500 acres 311,600 acres

Uses of Oats

Oats are finally used for milling and stock feed. Seed for these purposes is required.

1. Seed Oats. The average yield of oats harvested during the past four years is approximately 46 bushels per acre producing almost 3 million bushels of grain. About .600,000 bushels is required for sowing the 300,000 acres grown. The majority of farmers in the South Island use homje grown seed. The only variety which has any large sale for seed is Algerians on account of the demand from the North Island where, this variety is almost the only one grown. According to the district and season, two to three bushels per acre are sown. It is recommended that 1 cwt. of super be sown along with the seed. The crop is susceptible to attack by two kinds of smut and all sowings for a crop should be pickled either with the older formalin or bluestone mixture, or with the more modern dry dusts such as Agrosan or Ceresan. Oats used for green-

advanced in the spring and is liable to lodge it may be advisable to feed off, but it must be realised that, ;except on strong land, hard feeding off tends to reduce yields considerably.

2. Milling Oats. Of the grain harvested, about 650,000 bushels are also required for the milling trade. Garten's Abundance is the most popular oat for this purpose. The grain is plump with a relatively low proportion of husk (26 per cent) and the husk is white. The grade of oats desired for milling is known as "Gartens 'A'." Any white oat which weighs not less than 41 lbs. per bushel off the mill, is sound and dry, not necessarily free from -weeds, and is of a standard colour, can be classed as "A" for milling purposes. A good sample of Algerians may be accepted when there is a short supply of white oats, but coloured oats are not popular with the miller.

3. Stock Feed, (a) Grain. Oats are one of the best concentrated feeds for cattle, sheep and horses

and can be stored as a reserve against periods of shortage. In digestibility trials carried out at Canterbury Agricultural College recently the total nutrient or energy values for the three standard varieties, Garten's Abundance, Algerian and Dun, were the same despite variation in the percentage of oil and proteins. The analysis of digestible nutrients given in the following table however shows that Dun is richer in oil than the other varieties and it is for this reason that this variety is preferred for horses.

the feeding value of the straw is reduced and if cut too early the chaff lacks the bright colour and sweetness of the more mature crop.

(c) Greenfeed. It will be noticed from the table on Page 1 that the area in greenfeed has shown a marked increase during the past ten years. "Greenfeed" is a very convenient means of providing extra succulent nutritious feed for periods of shortage, particularly on light land. It can be used with advantage for flushing ewes, for supplementing the winter feed ration

The above analysis refers to good feed oats; light weight oats with poorly developed kernels and a high percentage of husk are low in food

and is an excellent feed for stimulating the milk supply of lambed ewes in August before grass begins to grow. Prolonged feeding on greenfeed oats during the winter is not advisable as the feed is low in minerals and lime and some of the ewe troubles have been traced to prolonged feeding on oats during the winter. However, when used along with turnips or chaff, or with good hay, it can be of considerable value.

value

(b) Chaff. In spite of the reduced quantity now used for horses, Vhe_ greater part of the oat crop is still used for chaff. It is the staple horse feed and can also be fed with advantage to both cattle and sheep during the winter months or in periods of drought. It ,can be conveniently stored for two or more years and if not required for home consumption can be sold. In the North Island oats are grown chiefly for chaff and Algerian is practically the only variety grown on account of a certain degree of resistance to leaf rust which is very prevalent on cereals in the warmer and more humid areas. In South* land, spring-sown white oats, chiefly Garten's Abundance, are more popular while in Canterbury, Algerion is the main autumn variety and Garton's Abundance the main spring variety. Dun, an autumn variety, is grown for chaff and greenfeed in all parts of the South Island but except in late districts is less popular than Algerian.

Greenfeed oats sown in February or March will provide autumn feed and a succession of feed up till August or September. The most popular varieties are Algerian .and Dun. Of these, Algerian is the best for providing autumn feed. Dun is slower in the autumn and winter; its more prostrate growth causes the feed to get dirty if fed under wet conditions but it can be fed satisfactorily for about one month later than Algerian and for this reason is more popular in late districts. Another variety of oats which can be used for greenfeed and one which is becoming popular is Russet. It provides a greater bulk of feed than Algerian and gives a satisfactory yield of chaff when shut up in the spring.

The grain content of chaff and the stage at which the crop is cut influences the quality. There are no reliable standards for measuring this quality except that the number of bags per ton gives an indication of the grain content, 25 bags per ton being generally considered a good standard. Good chaff has a bright purplish-green colour, a sweet smell and a high proportion of grain to straw. Varieties differ in the latter character, Algerian being superior to both Garten's Abundance and Dun. Some of the coarse strawed varieties, though high yielders, have a very low proportion of grain to straw. To produce high quality chaff the crop should be cut before it is dead ripe; the best stage is when the grain is fully formed and in the dough stage. If cut later

On land in good heart the green feed crop can be shut up for a crop of chaff in September or October but on light land it is preferable to plough as soon as the feed gets woody in the spring.

Notes on Varieties Numerous varieties of oats other than the three standard varieties referred to through the body of the bulletin (Algerian, Garten's Abundance, and Dun) are grown in districts where experience has indicated more reliable returns and growers are justified in adhering to them. A brief account of these main varieties and of some minor and new ones is given for the purjpose of helping the grower in his selection.

Algerian. This is one of the most popular green feed and chaff oats. When sown in February or March it provides early autumn feed and supplies a succession of feed up till spring time. On land in good heart it may then be shut up for a crop of chaff. It is one of the few varieties which is somewhat resistant to rust in the North Island, where it is almost the only variety grown. Surplus grain produced in the South Island is used to supply the demand for seed. A selection known as College Algerian, strain 8.49, produced at Canterbury Agricultural College, is a short strawed high yielding strain which has largely replaced the unselected variety.

! "Gartons." This name in New Zealand is given to Garten's Abundance, though the varieties Hero and Leader' are sometimes called "Gartons." The grain is white .and of high quality and is the chief oat used for milling. About 650,000 bushels are required for this purpose and there is a market for good quality grain which is known as Gartens "A." It is a spring variety and though the straw tends to coarseness it produces good chaff. It is not often grown for 'greenfeed' as it does not recover as well as the Algerian or Dun varieties from successive grazing.

Dun. This is an autumn variety and has a very prostrate habit of growth during the winter. It can be fed off later than Algerian and is a popular greenfeed oat in late districts. The straw is fine and the dun coloured grain has a higher oil content than any. other variety. It makes good chaff and surplus I

grain of good quality finds a ready market.

Russet. This is a new oat which is becoming popular for greenfeed and chaff. It is an upright growing variety, earlier than Algerian and provides a good bulk of early feed. It stands up to repeated feeding off and when shut up in the spring produces a good yield of chaff. The grain is a light straw colour and of good quality.

Ruakura. This strain was selected in 1908 at Ruakura Farm School by Mr A. W. Green. Its chief characteristic is resistance to leaf rust and it was popular in the North Island for this reason. It is not resistant to stem rust. For many years pure seed was difficult to procure but small quantities are now available in Christchurch. It is a good greenfeed crop especially on light land, makes good fine chaff and produces good yields of high quality grain. The grain is long and white or a pale dun colour. Resistance. This variety was pro-

duced by Dr. Hunter of Cambridge Plant Breeding Station and was introduced to New Zealand in 1934. The name was given in England on account of its resistance to winter injury. In trials in New Zealand it has outyielded all other varieties and its straw is particularly resistant to lodging. It is susceptible to rust in the North Island and has a high proportion of seconds. It can be used as an autumn sown white oat and for greenfeed.

Onward. This is a heavy yielding white oat similar to 'Gartens' except that the grain is very short and plump. It is a good chaff oat, producing a high proportion of grain to straw. It was introduced from Garten's Ltd. in 1937.

to straw, and the fact that it is not very palatable and is susceptible to rust. It is still grown in the high country.

Winter Grey. This is a high yielding dun coloured oat with fine straw. It is a good green feed oat and produces a good quality chaff with a high proportion of grain to straw. Though the grain is very similar in appearance to Dun, it has not the high oil content. This is one of the old English winter hardy varieties, and is worth growing in the colder districts and on medium to light land. On heavy strong land there is a tendency for the crop to lodge if allowed to grow too rank.

Surplus grain from the other varieties has not a reliable* outlet though one or more of them may have proved to be the most suitable for use on the farm.

Webb's Challenge. This variety is similar to varieties known as Black Excelsior, Black Prolific, and Black Scotch. It is a high yielding variety with a long black grain. In windy districts it is preferred on account of its resistance to wind and is a good greenfeed and chaff oat.

j Black Tartar. This is probably one of. the heaviest yielding straw crops but it is not very popular on account of the coarse nature of the straw, the low proportion of grain

Other varieties which are occasionally grown are Black Supreme (also called Black Superior), Sir Douglas Haig, Record, Hero, Sparrowbill, Danish, etc. and are of value in restricted localities.

In the selection of the variety to grow, several factors must be considered. Most of the varieties will produce satisfactory chaff ahd green feed crops, and where these are the only factors to consider any of~r the above varieties will be worth > growing. It is when surplus grain is to be disposed of at a remunerative price, that the selection is narrowed down to those varieties for which there is a demand for . seed. In the main only the three major varieties can be considered under "this head, namely: (1) Algerians, for which there is a market in the North Island; (2) Gartons, for milling; (3) Duns, for which there is a special preference for horse feed.

Variety %Husk Starch Equivalent Protein (Nutrient or Energy Value) Oils N. Free Extract (Carbohydrates) Garten's Abundance Dun Algerian 26 25 30 64 5.5 64 7.2 65 7.5 4.2 7.2 4.4 50 47 48