[AT] OT; Seed Oats

[toma at risingnet.net]

Quoting "H. L. Staples" <hlstaples at mcloudteleco.com>:

> A number of years ago we planted some oats that were purchased from the feed
> store.  The oats were just labeled "northern oats".
>
> They were planted for hay, and did a fantastic job of growing. and they made
> lots of hay. Real tall with broad leaves, grew up to my shirt pocket.
>
> Anyone have ideas as to a tall growing named variety and where they might be
> available ??

Out here in CA we plant CA Red Oats for hay. It can grow real tall in  
good ground but the best "horse hay" is when it is 30" or less as it  
can tend to get coarse.

When it is in the milk or dough stage the stems take on a red color,  
to me this indicates a lot of feed value on the stems. The grain  
itself is a reddish brown color distinguishing it from other varieties  
that are whiter.

The last few years the California Red Oat seed that I have been able  
to get is grown in Oregon. The seed is much smaller and less plump  
than we used to grow here. This area used to produce seed oats for the  
rest of the state but very little is grown here anymore.

Last year I could not get any Red Oats it was .45 per lb and they ran  
out. I sure wish I still had a combine. I ended up planting Cayuse  
Oats which is reported to be good for hay. The stems were kind of a  
washed out yellow and the horses won't eat it too good. The cattle  
clean it up but they are getting thin on it. Fortunately I was able to  
get CA Red this year, I got the field half planted but got rained out.  
It was only $28 cwt this year. There is always a lot of seed on the  
ground after cutting hay. I think next year I am going to overseed  
with vetch and disc it dry and hope for a volunteer crop. I am tired  
of searching for seed and buying it for a high price.

A couple of years ago an old timer told me of an oat he used to plant.  
It was called Texas Black Oats. He said they would plant it here and  
it would turn out like the red oats. It may have been the forerunner  
of CA Red.

Tom