This report presents harvest quality data and production statistics for western Canadian oats grown in 2024. Oat samples were submitted to the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program by producers. Quality data is compiled from the results of analytical tests performed in the Grain Research Laboratory.
The annual oats survey is based on oat samples submitted to the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program. In 2024, we received 253 samples from various growing districts in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia (Figure 1). The majority of samples in 2024 were graded No. 3 Canada Western (CW) based on their test weight (Figure 2). The protein content of oats in 2024 was below the 5-year average for each grade (Figure 3). A comparison of the average protein content (%, dry basis) of oats grown in each province in 2024 is given in Figure 4.
Figure 1 Origin and number of oat samples collected through the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program in 2024.
Figure description
Map of western Canada with dots showing the origin and number of oat samples received in 2024. Seventy-three samples came from southern Manitoba, 119 from southern and central Saskatchewan, 57 from Alberta and 1 from northeastern British Columbia.
Figure 2 Comparison of test weight (kg/hL) ranges of oat samples collected through the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program from 2019 to 2024. The number of samples for each year is in parentheses.
Graph data
The boxes in the graph show the range of test weight values in the middle 50% of the analyzed samples. Quartiles and means are represented by boxes and horizontal lines, respectively. Asterisks indicate the maximum and minimum values.
Test weight (kg/hL)
Year
Number of samples
Weighted average
2019
240
55.2
2020
324
54.2
2021
224
51.8
2022
279
54.1
2023
182
54.1
2024
212
52.3
Figure 3 Average protein contentFootnote 1 (%, db) in oats of different grades collected through the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program for each year from 2019 to 2024.
Graph data
Protein content (%, db)
Year
No. 1 CW
No. 2 CW
No. 3 CW
2019
11.3
11.8
11.5
2020
11.2
11.8
11.9
2021
12.7
13.3
13.2
2022
11.7
11.9
11.9
2023
11.9
12.2
12.0
2024
11.7
11.9
12.1
5-year average
11.8
12.2
12.1
Figure 4 Comparison of average protein contentFootnote 1 (%, db) in oats grown in different provinces in 2024. The number of samples for each grade is in parentheses.
Graph data
Alberta
Grade
No. of samples
Protein content (%, db)
SD
No. 1 CW
10
12.1
0.7
No. 2 CW
14
12.5
1.2
No. 3 CW
14
12.6
1.3
Saskatchewan
Grade
No. of samples
Protein content (%, db)
SD
No. 1 CW
3
10.2
1.6
No. 2 CW
32
11.6
1.1
No. 3 CW
40
12.1
1.1
Manitoba
Grade
No. of samples
Protein content (%, db)
SD
No. 1 CW
0
-
-
No. 2 CW
17
12.0
0.6
No. 3 CW
25
11.9
0.6
Table 1 Protein content (%, db) and test weight (kg/hL) for oat varieties collected through the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program in 2024
Table 2 Percentage of samples containing different levels (ppm) of deoxynivalenol (DON) for all grades of oat samples collected through the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program in 2024
Deoxynivalenol (DON) level (ppm)
Western Canada (n = 250)
British Columbia (n = 1)
Alberta (n = 57)
Saskatchewan (n = 119)
Manitoba (n = 73)
Below Limit (< 0.3 ppm)
77.6
0
87.7
77.3
71.2
0.3 to 0.5
15.6
100.0
8.8
17.6
16.4
0.6 to 1.0
5.6
0
1.8
5.0
9.6
1.1 to 2.0
0.8
0
1.8
0
1.4
2.1 to 5.0
0.4
0
0
0
1.4
5.1 to 6.0
0
0
0
0
0
Above limit (> 6.0 ppm)
0
0
0
0
0
Composition of groats from selected oat varieties
A comparison of groat quality for varieties grown in the Prairies in 2023 and 2024 is given for proteins (Figure 5), beta-glucans (Figure 6), lipids (Figure 7), and ash (Figure 8). All oat samples selected for analyses were graded No. 2 CW or No. 3 CW based on their test weight; no other degrading factors were identified. The samples were sorted for size using a 5.5/64” x ¾” slotted screen and only plump kernels remaining on the screen were dehulled to produce groats (Codema LLCTM Laboratory Oat Huller). Figures 5 to 8 show the number of samples for each variety in parentheses.
Figure 5 Comparison of the protein content (%, db) in groats of selected oat varieties grown in the Prairies in 2023 and 2024Footnote 2.
Graph data
Groat protein content (%, db) (number of samples in parentheses)
Variety
2023
2024
CDC Ruffian
15.8 (1)
13.4 (2)
CDC Endure
14.9 (5)
13.5 (10)
ORe3542M
16.3 (3)
14.6 (3)
Summit
15.5 (7)
14.8 (10)
CDC Anson
- (0)
15.0 (3)
AAC Douglas
16.4 (4)
15.3 (5)
CS Camden
17.2 (6)
15.8 (11)
AC Morgan
14.6 (7)
16.0 (11)
CDC Arborg
15.6 (9)
16.2 (12)
Figure 6 Comparison of the beta-glucan content (%, db) in groats of selected oat varieties grown in the Prairies in 2023 and 2024Footnote 2.
Graph data
Groat beta-glucan content (%, db) (number of samples in parentheses)
Variety
2023
2024
CDC Ruffian
4.48 (1)
4.00 (2)
AC Morgan
4.07 (7)
4.22 (11)
ORe3542M
4.70 (3)
4.54 (3)
Summit
4.56 (7)
4.99 (10)
CS Camden
4.63 (6)
5.25 (11)
CDC Arborg
4.94 (9)
5.27 (12)
CDC Endure
5.22 (5)
5.43 (10)
AAC Douglas
5.22 (4)
5.51 (5)
CDC Anson
- (0)
6.57 (3)
Figure 7 Comparison of the lipid content (%, db) in groats of selected oat varieties grown in the Prairies in 2023 and 2024Footnote 2.
Graph data
Groat lipid content (%, db) (number of samples in parentheses)
Variety
2023
2024
CDC Arborg
5.79 (9)
5.56 (12)
AC Morgan
5.91 (7)
6.15 (11)
AAC Douglas
6.64 (4)
6.23 (5)
ORe3542M
5.90 (3)
6.44 (3)
Summit
7.04 (7)
6.61 (10)
CDC Endure
6.67 (5)
6.70 (10)
CDC Ruffian
- (0)
6.77 (2)
CDC Anson
- (0)
6.91 (3)
CS Camden
6.87 (6)
6.99 (11)
Figure 8 Ash content (%, db) of groats obtained after dehulling selected varieties of oats grown in the Prairies in 2023 and 2024Footnote 2.
Graph data
Groat ash content (%, db) (number of samples in parentheses)
Variety
2023
2024
ORe3542M
1.69 (3)
1.67 (3)
CDC Ruffian
- (0)
1.74 (2)
CDC Endure
1.73 (5)
1.81 (10)
AC Morgan
1.88 (7)
1.81 (11)
CDC Anson
- (0)
1.82 (3)
CS Camden
1.74 (6)
1.88 (11)
CDC Arborg
1.62 (9)
1.89 (12)
AAC Douglas
1.89 (4)
2.04 (5)
Summit
1.82 (7)
2.04 (10)
Production statistics
Table 3 Area (million hectares) seeded with oats in CanadaFootnote a
Figure 10 Comparison of oat production (million tonnes) in western Canada from 2015 to 2024.
Graph data
Production of oats (million tonnes)
Year
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
Western Canada
Canada
2015
0.595
1.928
0.393
2.974
3.425
2016
0.569
1.653
0.625
2.903
3.231
2017
0.821
1.989
0.609
3.469
3.733
2018
0.709
1.689
0.700
3.171
3.436
2019
0.794
2.215
0.835
3.901
4.227
2020
1.117
2.296
0.802
4.273
4.576
2021
0.767
1.153
0.547
2.549
2.899
2022
1.169
2.567
1.055
4.857
5.226
2023
0.653
1.034
0.642
2.396
2.643
2024
0.934
1.470
0.631
3.096
3.358
Figure 11 Distribution of oat classes as percentage (%) of area seeded with oats in western Canada from 2019 to 2024Footnote 3.
Graph data
% of area seeded with oats
Year
Milling
Feed and Forage
Hulless
Not specified
2019
84.3
7.7
0.1
8.0
2020
84.4
7.3
0.1
8.1
2021
86.4
7.6
0.0
6.0
2022
86.3
6.9
0.0
6.8
2023
81.6
10.6
0.0
7.8
2024
82.5
9.6
0.0
7.9
Figure 12 Distribution of oat classes in each province as percentage (%) of area seeded with oats in western Canada in 2023 and 2024Footnote 3.
2023
2024
Graph data
% of area seeded with oats in western Canada in 2023
Location
Milling
Feed and Forage
Hulless
Not specified
Alberta
18.3
5.7
0.0
0.1
Saskatchewan
35.3
3.7
0.0
6.2
Manitoba
28.0
1.2
0.0
1.5
% of area seeded with oats in western Canada in 2024
Location
Milling
Feed and Forage
Hulless
Not specified
Alberta
17.7
4.0
0.0
0.0
Saskatchewan
38.1
3.7
0.0
7.1
Manitoba
24.4
0.8
0.0
0.5
Figure 13 Comparison of area seeded with oat varieties in western Canada from 2019 to 2024. Variety names, class and registration dates include: CS Camden (milling, 2014), AC Morgan (milling, 2000), CDC Arborg (milling, 2017), Summit (milling, 2008), CDC Endure (milling, 2019), AAC Douglas (milling, 2019), CDC Haymaker (forage, 2015), AC Mustang (feed, 1994), Triactor (milling, 2007)Footnote 3.
Graph data
% of area seeded with oat varieties in western Canada
Year
CS Camden
AC Morgan
CDC Arborg
Summit
CDC Endure
AAC Douglas
CDC Haymaker
AC Mustang
Triactor
2019
32.50
19.56
0.10
17.62
0.00
0.01
1.49
1.67
3.45
2020
33.16
18.12
3.69
16.65
0.00
0.01
2.00
1.27
3.24
2021
31.01
18.04
9.82
15.42
1.02
0.07
2.01
1.83
1.89
2022
28.23
19.93
12.83
13.23
4.56
0.58
1.76
1.62
1.56
2023
21.34
18.25
13.60
13.12
7.00
2.86
3.12
1.75
2.08
2024
18.86
18.60
17.40
12.12
8.39
4.83
3.29
2.46
1.91
Figure 14 Area seeded with the top eight milling oat varieties in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as percentage (%) of area seeded with milling oats in western Canada in 2024Footnote 3.
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Graph data
% of area seeded with milling oats in Alberta
Variety
Area seeded
CS Camden
2.5
AC Morgan
12.26
CDC Arborg
2.58
Summit
0.02
CDC Endure
0.41
AAC Douglas
0.17
CDC Haymaker
0.94
AC Mustang
1.06
% of area seeded with milling oats in Saskatchewan
Variety
Area seeded
CS Camden
11.22
AC Morgan
4.63
CDC Arborg
12.25
Summit
2.56
CDC Endure
4.19
AAC Douglas
0.31
CDC Haymaker
1.98
AC Mustang
0.15
% of area seeded with milling oats in Manitoba
Variety
Area seeded
CS Camden
5.07
AC Morgan
0.13
CDC Arborg
1.93
Summit
9.54
CDC Endure
3.74
AAC Douglas
4.31
CDC Haymaker
0.34
AC Mustang
0.00
Table 5 Distribution of milling, feed and forage oat varieties as a percentage (%) of the total area seeded with oats in western Canada in 2024Footnote 3
