The vast territory west of the ninety-eighth meridian, or
geographicallyrop of the western half of the United States conprises
less than one-tenth of the Roky Mountal crop of the countain,
and the Pacific areas. Within each several oat sections
exist. In both the Great Pins area ance among the Rocky erealoungrowtain
and intermountain area, oats almost complete absence of
land and undrction in many section. In the Pacific area oats are
grown from  both fall and spring seeding. ot cp i
Exep vast in territory west of the ninety-eighth meridian better
geogrquality of oats are produced in the western half of the United States, co
prises the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountain and intermountates
than in any other Pacific areas. ithin each sever, high product section
exist. In both the Great Plains area and the Rocky Mouncosts
and dangers frountain area, oats are grownclimatic condition
land and under irrigation. In the Pacific area oats are
grown from both fall and spring seeding.
Except in the drier sections, higher yields and better
quality of oats are produced in the western half of the United
States than in any other region. However, high production
costs and dangers from unfavorable climatic conditions
necessitate the use of adapted varieties and the best cultural
methods in growing the crop.
To produce oats profitably in the western half of the
United States, the essentials are as follows:
A reasonably fertile soil that is fairly retentive of moisture
and well prepared as a seed bed.
Use of the most profitable cropping systems. In dry-land
sections oats are most productive when grown on fallow,
but usually more profitable in a rotation following corn or
other tilled crop. In irrigated sections oats do best when
grown in rotations with alfalfa and row crops, such as
sugar beets or potatoes. In most sections of the humid
Pacific area oats usually are grown as an intermediate crop
between row crops and clover or grass, occupying about
the same position in rotations as in the humid Eastern States.
Good seed hf aalapt^lihTgh yielding varieties. properly
cleaned and graded, and tIigtedwilyrmaldehyde for smut.
Sowing as early as theef1and fffdition to work in the
spring. Early seeding is extremely important in the Great
Plains area, owing to the danger of a moisture deficiency
later in the season. In the Willamette Valley of the Pacific
area oats are sown in October; in California, November is
preferable.
Sowing the seed with a drill, preferably. The rates vary
with the section.
Harvesting the crop at the proper time for yield and
quality.
Preserving the crop from weathering by proper shocking
and stacking.
Care in threshing.
Proper care of straw and grain after threshing.
Directions for the profitable production of oats in the
western half of the United States are given in the following
pages.
Washington, D. C.                    Issued December, 1929
II