Oat Research Appropriations
Background
Basic research in oats has not kept pace with
research in other crops. As a consequence, oat
production has become less economically viable
relative to other production options
Concerns
- Oats give growers another production option and are environmentally sustainable.
- The U.S. doesn't grow enough oats to satisfy demand. The US is forced to import as much as 90 percent of its usage, as much as 100 million bu/year.
- Oat production is the lowest on record (since 1865).
- Growers must have oat varieties that compete in the market.
- All oat research in U.S. is publicly funded. Without needed research, progress in oat improvement will be slow. U.S. oat production will continue to decline, increasing our reliance on foreign sources of a basic food commodity.
FY2009 Oat Research Priorities
Yield Trends and Program Impacts
last updated February 29, 2008
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