316 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



F. H. Demaree. 



OUR OAT CROP— HOW IT MAY BE INCREASED. 



(P. H. Demaree, Assistant Professor of Agronomy, University of Missouri, College of 

 Agriculture and Missouri Experiment Station.) 



Although our farmers consider oats their least 

 profitable crop, and are dropping it out of their 

 rotations in many sections, still the j^ield of oats can 

 be largely increased and the crop made to pay a fair 

 return by proper methods of handling. The sowing 

 of sound, plump seed of the best varieties, better 

 preparation of the soil, drilling instead of broad- 

 casting, and control of smut will accomplish this 

 result. 



Oats Have a Place on the Farm. — It is a well 

 known fact that oats are one of the finest feeds 

 known for horses and young stock. The straw, if properly cared for, 

 has considerable feeding value. 



Oats, also, fit into our most practical rotations in a way no other 

 crop will do. One of the best rotations for the State as a whole is corn, 

 oats, wheat, clover or cowpeas. In this rotation the land is plowed only 

 two years out of the four, and there is no reason to drop one of the crops 

 at any time, thus upsetting the whole scheme of cropping. On the other 

 hand, where a three course rotation, such as corn, wheat, clover or cow- 

 peas, is adopted, the corn often blows down, which prevents sowing 

 wheat between the rows. The whole crop must then be cut up if the 

 land is put in wheat. This is often objectionable or impossible, so the 

 rotation degenerates into corn two or three years, and wheat and clover 

 when they can be sown. No land will maintain its fertility and yield- 

 ing power unless properly and systematically rotated. 



Missouri Oat Crop in the Past. — For the last seven years. Missouri 

 has produced on the average only 709,589 acres of oats yearly. This is 

 far below the corn and wheat acreage. The average yearly yield of oats 

 during this time has been 22.6 bushels, valued at 35 cents per bushel. 

 This makes the average value of an acre of oats only $7.91. 



Cost of Production and Profits. — In the annual report of the State 

 Board of Agriculture of Missouri for 1909 is given an estimate on the 

 cost of producing an acre of oats. This has been worked out by a care- 

 ful farmer and can be considered very accurate. Furthermore, it tallies 

 closely with estimates from other states. The cost given in the report. 



