Cover Crop Series: Oats

• hpoppler
• Nov 12, 2024
• 1 min read

Updated: Apr 17, 2025

Get ready for this week’s cover crop feature! We’re bringing you a new cover crop species each week, sharing tips on planting and revealing the challenges or benefits. This week, we’re covering Oats!

Planting Details:

• Oats can be seeded in early spring and used as a nurse crop to help establish forage species or for grain production.

• When planted in late summer or early fall, they grow enough to be used as a forage.

• Can be planted anytime between April and September based on intended use.

• Seeding rates will vary based on use & seeding method but typically range from 30-60lbs/acre

About Oats:

• Versatile cover crop can be used as a nurse crop to establish a forage species or for grain production.

• Cereal grain used for hum and livestock consumption as well as a cover crop.

• Can be paired with most other cover crop species to make a perfect mix whether you’re a beginner or an expert growing cover crops.

Benefits:

Flexible Cover Crop

• Can be paired with most other cover crop species to make a perfect mix for both beginners & cover crop experts.

Soil Health

• Oats are commonly used to reduce erosion, saving nutrients from be carried away by wind or water.

• With a large amount of biomass accumulated, oats will suppress weeds. T

• hey’re also a host for mycorrhizal fungi.

Interested in learning more about crops or find info on how to get started?
Visit our Cover Crops page
, or Contact our Environmental Services team at
[email protected]