when do i combine my oats?

Jamo58 · Jul 30, 2010

How do I know? What do I look for? If it's hot and not humid can I bale the straw the same day? I'm in Southwestern Pa. This is my first year with oats. I will be straight combining.

95% of the field looks golden, not really any weeds except along the field perimiters...and the seed heads seem dry but that's my rookie observation.

The farmer down the road who planted 3 weeks before I did just combined his oats this week. I have been using his schedule as a rough timeline for what I've been doing.

Any input is always appreciated.

Thanks,
Jameson

NY 986 · Jul 30, 2010

The best thing to do is cut a sample. Cut 50 to 100 feet into the field then stop. That should provide a sufficient sample to take to the nearest grain elevator/terminal and conduct a moisture sample. CLEAN and reading 13 percent or below indicates they are ready to store. Above that you need to wait for the moisture to drop or locate somebody that could (for a fee) that will (air) dry your crop. The problem with letting them set in the field is they are at risk of going down and weeds coming through the crop. They are very miserable to cut with something like ragweed present in the field.
Also, look in the cut sample of straw to see the presence of green oat material. Significant green straw may indicate stray green grain you may not see in your sample and are usually harder for an older combine to thresh.

NY 986 · Jul 30, 2010

I forgot to mention that we usually wait a day (preferably two) to bale to let any green material properly dry.

paul · Jul 30, 2010

We always swath here in the humid area I am in. With my underseeded plowdown/grazing crops, it's too green to straight combine anyhow.

It would be very rare for the stems and green bits to be dry enough right behind the combine when straight cutting to bale the straw. Waiting a couple days is likely needed.

--->Paul

GordoSD · Jul 30, 2010

Why don't you ask the farmer down the road who knows the local conditions and can look at you oats?

Anonymous-0 · Jul 30, 2010

1) When you first think they might be ready, go fishing for a week.

2) They are close when the stems start to buckle over a bit, and the field goes from a nice yellow to a deep golden/orange yellow

3) If they are spotless and super ripe, you might be able to bale behind the combine. A few day's wait is most likely the better plan.

Windrowing them and combining with a pickup has pitfalls as well. I have seen the oats sprout in the windrow 3 or 4 times in my career, including this year, due to excessive rains after swathed. The few oats still raised in Iowa that are swathed this year won't be worth harvesting once it dries up--if it ever does. Taking them standing is a much better plan if they are clean enough the "green stuff" doesn't need to cure in the windrow.

Nibble in and take a sample to town. That's about all there is to it.

Nebraska Cowman · Jul 30, 2010

You don't to see very many green heads. The straw might be still a little green. One big problem with oats is weeds. You leave them too long and end up with a worse mess than if you cut them a little early. They will sweat out acertain amount. Epecialy if you can get air on them or stir them with a scoop shovel.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 30, 2010

rained on straw makes more absorbant bedding

Bob Bancroft · Jul 30, 2010

I just finished mine today, probably earliest ever. Lots of good advice. I will add that my experience is that the oats are usually dry before the straw is. If you can get it through a combine without any issues(wrapping,etc.) it's time to go. The grain will want aerating even if dry to get the field heat out of it.

wijim · Jul 30, 2010

Combined some of mine last night. some was down with ALOT of weeds. should of took pics, the old #30 JD does a great job cleaning them. wife took nthem in today 12.5 mosture. 1.75 a bushel. I have more to cut I will take pics. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Jul 31, 2010

I've heard that one all my life. How do such silly notions get started?

I had 2 inches on mine this year. Rake, rake, rake, and rake some more to dry it out. With new, wide combines one sure doesn't hope for the BIG windrow to get wet--it is darned hard to dry back out.

Nicest straw is always when no rain between combining and baling.

John51 · Jul 31, 2010

Here in north central PA I combined mine last Wednesday,July 20....much earlier than usual. We"ve had a very hot dry summer. 12.8% moisture. Baled the straw the next day. You will get a lot more straw if you don"t have to rake it. Mine was very dry and made nice bales.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 31, 2010

a little rain breaks down the wax on the straw,but what do I know? Evidently not much according to an Einstein like you. I guess I haven't learned anything working with dairy and beef for 40 some years,I suppose it is a silly notion that windrowed oats that gets rained on threshes easier? I so supid please teach me more master!

Stuart · Jul 31, 2010

Yeah that is not true, plus you loose tonnage everytime it gets rained on.

when do i combine my oats?

Jamo58

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NY 986

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NY 986

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paul

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GordoSD

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Anonymous-0

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Nebraska Cowman

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wijim

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