US producers intend to trim planted area for both oats and barley this year, with oat acreage potentially falling to a near record low.
A USDA prospective plantings report on Monday pegged national oat intentions at 2.18 million acres, down 2% from 2024. If accurate, it would be the second smallest US oat planted area since records began in 1926. Barley area is forecast to decline 2% as well, falling to 2.32 million acres.
Oat planted area in North Dakota and South Dakota is estimated to expand 7% this year to 300,000 and 290,000 acres, respectively. However, Minnesota oat area is projected to decline 5% to 195,000 acres, with Texas down 11% at 340,000. Kansas oat area is seen plummeting 41% on the year to just 95,000 acres.
For barley, Montana acres are forecast to fall 1% year-over-year to 800,000. In contrast, North Dakota growers said they intend to increase barley area by 22% to 450,000 acres.
