Aaron Butler operates a certified organic operation near Malta, Illinois, where he grows 3,000 acres of corn, soybeans and food-grade oats. He has a license to grow Rushmore variety oats but also explores new varieties. Each year, Aaron reviews the latest Midwest oat variety trial reports to find promising alternatives to test on his farm.
What to look for: “The number one factor is a good test weight, which is especially important when selling oats into a food-grade market. We are also looking for a good disease package. We are organic; we need something that can hold up in a year with high disease pressure.”
Market specs: After harvest, Aaron works with Grain Millers to determine milling quality and milling yield of his trial oat varieties. He’s found that some varieties aren’t worth milling. “We grew out Antigo and they didn’t end up milling well; the berries were too small.”
Final considerations: "When reviewing variety trial data don’t forget to consider your local climate; not all varieties are transferable within the Midwest. “We once tried a late-season variety that worked well in the Dakotas but it did not work in Illinois!”
