When to swath oats

M Nut · Jul 17, 2012

I'm going to combine oats for the first time on my own this year, and I don't know what to look for to know when they should be cut. Grandpa would always say when, but he has been gone for several years now. When I look at the field it is about 80% golden color, just a small amount of green stems in a couple of low areas. When I chew a kernel or two, it is not "milky". I'd say firm, but not hard. Also after swathing, what should I look for to know when to run the combine? Thanks for any advice.

Leroy · Jul 17, 2012

Never swathed, allways cut direct. Neighbor took his of yesterday.

JMS/.MN · Jul 17, 2012

The field should not have a green sheen to it. Should be pretty golden. Lotsa weeds throws that off, so look at the oats. Kernels should be hard. Grab a few sets and rub your hands together. They should shell out easily. Start now, try daily, to monitor maturity. Swathing oats allows time for the weeds to dry- relatively clean, could combine in 2-3 days. When you combine, put some oats in a can and shake it. Dry grain will "rustle". Get down behind the combine and blow the chaff away on the ground to check for kernel loss. Oats is easy to blow out the back end...lighter test weight than wheat or barley. Check those that blow over, to see if they are hulls or viable grain. I nail a can to a stick to pass thru behind the chaffer to get a sample of what"s in the trash.

JMS/.MN · Jul 18, 2012

When you start combining, stop the separator before all the straw runs through. Check the straw on the walker to see if all the heads are threshed. If not, close the concave or increase cyl speed. (concave first- speed makes feed. If the combine has a chopper, checking straw on the ground proves nothing.

M Nut · Jul 18, 2012

Thanks for the info Jim. I'll be giving 'er a go soon.

When to swath oats

M Nut

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Leroy

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JMS/.MN

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JMS/.MN

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M Nut

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