28 
BULLETIN 1271, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
bushels. The average quantity of twine used per acre was 2.3 
pounds, the maximum 3.4 pounds; and the minimum, 1.2 pounds. 
The average quantity of twine used with yields below 30 bushels 
per acre was 2.2 pounds; with yields from 30 to 35 bushels, 2.5 
pounds; and with yields over 35 bushels, 2.6 pounds. The usual 
threshing rate per bushel was 3 cents in 1921 and 1922 and 5 cents 
in 1920. (Table 16.) 
Table 16.- 
-Siandard requirements per acre for oats production in southwestern 
Minnesota 
Operation and implement used 
Hours of labor 
Man 
Horse 
H 
2 
*/5 
Vs 
Vi 
2 
H 
3 
l 
2H 
4 
Acres 
covered 
in a 10- 
hour day 
Disking, 8-foot disk and 4 horses 
Harrowing, 22-foot harrow and 4 horses 
Seeding, 10-foot drill and 4 horses. 
Cutting, 8-foot binder and 4 horses 
Shocking. 
Shock threshing 
20 
50 
20 
13H 
10 
4 
Seed, 3 bushels. 
Twine, 2.3 pounds. 
These requirements cover the usual operations in oat culture in 
this area. In case it is desirable to plow for oats, the standard plow- 
ing requirements may be obtained from Table 5. If the crop is to 
be stacked, the shock threshing can be replaced with 2.75 man hours 
and 3.25 horse hours for stacking, and 1 man hour and 1.25 horse 
hours for threshing. 
DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR ON OATS 
Table 17 shows the dates between which the different operations 
on the oat crop are commonly performed and the usual clays available 
for the operation during the period. 
Table 17. — Dates and work days available for different operations on the oat crop 
Operation 
Dates 
Work 
days 
avail- 
able 
Operation 
Dates 
Work 
days 
avail- 
able 
Spring plowing 
Disking 
Apr. 5 to Apr. 22 
Apr. 10 to Apr. 25... 
Apr. 12 to Apr. 28... 
Apr. 12 to Apr. 25... 
14 
10 
13 
10 
Cutting and shock- 
ing. 
July 18 to July 26... 
7 
Harrowing 
10 
Seeding 
Stack threshing 
Shock threshing 
Aug. 25 to Sept. 30.. 
Aug. 1 to Aug. 15 
27 
11 
Work on the oat crop starts as soon in the spring as the ground is 
thawed and dry enough to work. In fact, it is the first crop sown in 
the spring. Therefore, the time of seed-bed preparation and seeding 
opera I ions is det ermincd largely by seasonal weather conditions. Incase 
of a Late spring, the seed-bed preparation is rushed and the number 
of harrowings and diskings reduced in order that the work on the 
corn crop be not delayed too long. As in the case of corn, the dales 
suggested may be safely used in planning the labor program for the 
farm. 
