It’s important to plan out your season when selecting oat varieties for your operation. Busch Grains has created both US and Canada Recommended Oat Variety Guides. These guides highlight geographical areas where certain oat varieties have exhibited their highest potential to meet oat milling standards. This can be a great tool to help narrow down varieties to consider.

• The Western Canada guide can be located here.
• The US guide can be located here.

Step 2: Disease Resistance

Diseases can cause catastrophic crop loss at multiple points during the growing season. This can be mitigated if disease resistance is considered in management decisions at season planning. A level of resistance to these diseases is important, as it may reduce the need for a fungicide application during the season. Resistance to these diseases is especially important in organic production systems, where fungicide application is prohibited. Many of the varieties available today offer strong disease resistance packages with varying levels of resistance to oats’ major diseases:

1. Rusts: Crown rust is one of the most prominent diseases for oats, partly due to the fact that there are multiple species of the disease that can infect oat plants. Thankfully, there are multiple varieties on the market that have an assortment of resistance genes to provide a level of resistance to crown rust on oats, such as ORe3542M (Canada) & Rushmore (US), increasing tolerance against different strains that may be prevalent in different years. If you are in an area with a history of rust infections, it is best practice to choose a variety rated at least “Moderately Resistant” for crown rust.
2. Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus: BYDV is a virus vectored by aphids and is transferred to oats during times when aphids are feeding. This disease is identifiable by leaves that typically turn a prominent red orange color. Since it is a virus, there is no fungicide option for control. If you are in a wetter area and often have aphid issues that lead to BYDV presence in your oats, select oat varieties that carry a genetic resistance to BYDV; AAC Wesley (Canada) & Rockford (US) are varieties with resistance.

Step 3: Management Considerations

It is important to identify your farms’ typical application of practices, management limitations, and goals for overall use of the land you intend to grow your oats on when selecting which variety to grow. Some key considerations include:

1. Planting timing: Time is your friend, and planting early, in conjunction with a shorter-season variety like AAC Douglas (Canada) or Reins (US), can further assist in creating a larger window of opportunity to add management practices such as a cover crop for grazing following harvest. Planting early could also allow you to use a longer season variety, like CDC Byer (Canada) or MN Pearl (US), that could have higher yield potential if your growing season allows. If you usually seed oats following other crops in your rotation (not first), choosing a shorter season variety may also help ensure that the oats will be ready to harvest in a timely manner come fall.
2. Straight cutting vs Swathing: Want to straight cut your crop? Pick a variety that is shorter in stature, such as CDC Anson (Canada) or Sumo (US), that still produces good yields with less stem biomass to worry about drying down during harvest. Your farm swaths all of the oat acres? Lean towards a variety with enough height to cut, and a good lodging rating, like CDC Endure (Canada) or Rushmore (US) to mitigate the risk of the crop falling over prior to swathing.
3. Yield targets: Each year, regional variety trials are executed to identify the best-performing and highest-yielding varieties. After examining other necessary characteristics on your checklist that you would need in a variety, compare the ones that fall within your needs to how well they yielded for your particular growing area. Varieties will perform differently in various geographic locations, so it is helpful to reference pre-existing data for your region.

Step 4: Post-harvest Considerations

When selecting oat varieties for fields across your operation, you will want to consider your intentions for each field following harvest:

1. Baling straw: Consider planting a variety that is taller in stature and produces more stem biomass, such as CDC Arborg (Canada) or MN Pearl (US), if you intend to bale straw following the crop.
2. Cover crop or field management:  Look into a shorter season variety to allow for ample time to complete the project or establish a cover crop, like AAC Wesley (Canada), Reins or Sumo (US).
3. Underseeding: When looking to plant an underseeded crop, consider the impact that varying varieties may have on this and the impact this may have on seeding rates. Oat varieties that exhibit more vertical plant structure, such as CS Camden (Canada) or Rushmore (US), may lend themselves nicely to this type of field management while still maintaining some weed suppression and the opportunity to meet milling standards.

Additional Resources

Planning, selecting, and seeding a resilient oat variety for your area is a pivotal decision in a successful cropping season. There are many resources available to learn more about oat production outside of the Grain Miller Oat Production Booklet linked above.

• You can check out resources such as POGA’s Oat Grower Manual for more information on oat production.
• To learn more about specific varietal characteristics consult varietal information from sources such as Practical Farmers of Iowa Oat Variety Trial Results in the US or the Saskatchewan Seed Guide in Canada for example.
• Seed dealers will also have information on specific characteristics of varieties they sell.

If you have more questions regarding specific varieties that may work on your farm to help you accomplish your goals, please do not hesitate to reach out. Call your Busch Grains Crop Specialist or email the Crop Science team at cropscience@grainmillers.com. The Crop Science team at Busch Grains would be more than happy to discuss varietal options and seeding considerations with you.

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There are varying types of soil tests available:

• Physical: Assess soil structure, texture, density, porosity, aggregation, etc.
• Chemical: Assess chemical soil properties such as pH, organic matter, and nutrient levels such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, etc.
• Total nutrient digestion (TDN): Provides a comprehensive evaluation of soil’s nutrient potential, unlike most tests which provide only what is available. TDN tests allow for a complete analysis of nutrient potential which can be unlocked through microbial activity.
• Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA): Uses PLFA’s found in cell membranes of living organisms to assess the soil microbial community. This is important when it comes to soil health because varying microbes and their communities aid in processes such as nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition.
• Haney test: Provides a comprehensive soil health assessment by combining chemical and biological soil properties. This test allows for soil health evaluation for both plant and microbial life, providing information on many categories including soil respiration, nutrient availability, organic matter, etc.

The bottom line is do your research, reach out, talk to your farm consultant or agronomist, and determine which test type will work best to continue to propel you and your operation forward. Learn more here!

Methods of soil sampling

To take a soil sample on a given field for lab testing, there are several methods that you can use depending on your farm’s geography. Some methods may work better than others because of land formations or equipment limitations. For a field that shows more variability, selecting a sampling method that takes landscape differences into consideration is recommended. This allows for benchmarks in different areas to create more meaningful, farm-wide test results.

• Random Composite: This sampling method is useful for small fields with naturally flat topography. Soil cores are taken from 15-20 sampling points at random intervals and locations in the field. This method largely ignores marginal locations and therefore is generally poor at capturing landscape soil variability.
• Directed Random: This method is like the Random Composite Sampling Pattern, except that the field is broken up into sections based on production. Areas of the field that are producing less yield, such as saline areas, and high-producing areas with high organic matter, are separated into management zones that are sampled individually. Additionally, the area that represents the most average yielding section of the field also becomes a management zone. Multiple random samples are then taken in all three zones.
• Benchmark: This method uses a singular, small zone in the most historically average-producing area of the field. Multiple soil samples are taken in a grid pattern within the marked zone which gives an average for the field, and in subsequent years, pulling samples from the same spot will indicate soil fertility changes year over year.
• Landscape-Directed Benchmark: This method utilizes a small sampling area like the Benchmark method but bases the different subzones of the field on topography. Instead of taking samples from areas of high-, low-, and average-production amounts, the management zones are broken into high knolls, level/average areas of the field, and low-lying areas. These areas can then be managed separately based on the soil test results.
• Grid: In this method, the field is divided into a grid and samples are pulled from each square in the grid pattern. The grid method is the most common soil sampling method for creating variable rate fertility maps, as it gives the most accurate picture of the nutrient requirements of any given area within the field. It is also the most labor- and cost-intensive sampling method described in this list.

Learn more about soil sampling guidelines here.

Soil health labs

Listed here are some examples of potential laboratories which you can interact with to complete testing on your farm. It is important to choose a lab that is within your means and meets your testing needs based on your soil health goals.  Once you understand their capabilities, it will be important to understand how to submit your samples to different labs. Labs may have specific guidelines on how they want samples to be taken, labeled, and submitted for testing. Look at some of the following labs, research others, and begin thinking about how testing facilities like these can help you better understand and manage your farm.

United States and Canada:

• Regen Ag Lab (Haney Test)
  • Regenerative Agriculture Laboratory – Regen Ag Lab, LLC
  • 31740 Highway 10, Pleasanton, NE 68866
• Ward Laboratories
  • 4007 Cherry Ave, Kearney, NE 68847
  • Home – Ward Laboratories, Inc.
• AgSource
  • 403 Cedar Ave W, Menomonie, WI 54751
  • Agronomic Soil Testing | AgSource Laboratories
• AGAT Laboratories
  • 1046 Gorham St, Thunder Bay ON P7B 5X5
  • Home – AGAT Laboratories (agatlabs.com)
• Western Laboratories
  • 211 W Highway 95, Parma, ID 83660
  • HOME (westernlaboratories.com)
• Earthfort LLC
  • 635 SW Western Blvd, Corvallis, OR 97333
  • Earthfort | Soil Testing, Soil Amendments, Soil Education
• CARA Soil Health Lab (Canada) 
  • 141 5 Street E, Oyen AB, T0J 2J0
  • https://www.carasoilhealthlab.ca/services
• A&L Laboratories Inc (Canada)
  • 2136 Jetstream Road, London, Ontario N5V 3P5
  • https://www.alcanada.com/content/solutions/soil-health
• North American Soil Testing Laboratories Directory

How to read a soil test?

Check out these two articles on how to read a soil test if you have questions on what a test will tell you, what it means, and how to begin to decipher results.
https://www.fbn.com/community/blog/how-to-read-a-soil-analysis-report
https://www.cropscience.bayer.us/articles/bayer/reading-interpreting-soil-test

Nutrient Management Planning Guide. Nutrient management planning guide – Open Government. (2015, August 17). https://open.alberta.ca/publications/7086752

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Cover crop management requires planning termination methods and timing, you can maximize the benefits of cover crops while ensuring optimal conditions for the following crop. Various termination methods offer different advantages depending on your specific needs and environmental conditions.

If you haven’t already implemented a cover crop, consider the benefits of adding one to your rotation. Cover crops enhance soil health, improve water management, and address issues like compaction. By understanding and effectively managing termination methods, you can unlock the full potential of cover crops, profitable, and productive farming practices.

Let’s explore the various options for post-harvest cover crops to promote resilience in your system.

TERMINATION
Termination is integral to planning for a successful cover crop within your rotation. You want to maximize the benefits of the cover crop, while also setting up the following crop for success. When considering termination methods, it is important to determine the right method and timing to achieve your desired goals.

Natural: If you are using an annual cover crop blend, you can take a hands-off approach and let the crop naturally die through the winter months. The success of this sustainable method depends heavily on the snow cover and temperature conditions. Selecting annual species for your cover crop blend instead of perennials will also allow you to manage them this way.

Herbicide: An herbicide application completed at the right volume/stage of the cover crop is an effective method of termination. Make sure to put time into selecting the correct herbicide that will target not only the desiccation of the cover crop but also the weed species that are present.

Mechanical: To incorporate the cover crop residue back into the soil, you can complete a vertical tillage pass. This method speeds up the breakdown of plant residue, but can also require more than one pass to get control of the biomass.

If you are looking for a method with less soil disturbance, a roller-crimper implement is an effective option. This creates a protective residue layer that shields the soil through the winter months. This method has the greatest impact on soil health once the cover crop species has flowered.

Livestock: Livestock can terminate the cover crop with fall and/or early winter grazing. Not only do you benefit from terminating your cover crop stand, but the added nutrients from livestock manure while grazing help to improve the soil.

SCOUTING
Crop scouting is one of the most important activities you can invest time in to mitigate pests and protect yields. Frequent scouting ensures timely and effective decisions are made. It also allows you to learn about the productivity of your soil. Here are some scouting tips to help you monitor the health and success of your cover crop.

Tools needed for scouting and/or biomass testing:
• Shovel
• Scissors/pocketknife
• Collection bags
• Square foot frame

What to look for when crop scouting:
Nodules: Dig up some plants in your field deep enough to expose the root system. On the roots of leguminous/N-fixing plant species, knobs form on the roots. Nodules serve the purpose of nitrogen fixation.

If a nodule is pink when sliced open, it indicates active nitrogen fixation. Conversely, if there is no color it indicates dormant or inactive nodules. Terminating a legume cover crop once the nodules are pink (N-fixation can be high approximately 30 days after establishment up to the end of flowering) will release fixed nitrogen into the soil for the next growing season.

• Present species and weed pressure: Use a square foot frame to count cover crop species and weeds present. Successful cover crop establishment should show minimal weed presence due to competition created. These findings can help determine seeding rates for the following crop year if ground coverage needs to be adjusted.
  • You can also take this one step further and cut the plants within the frame to send them away for biomass testing. Choose the lab in advance so you have the correct protocol for gathering and sending the plant tissue sample.

• Quantity and depth of roots: The crop sown next growing season will follow the root paths the previous cover crop left behind. If the roots have bends or curves, that could indicate a compaction layer. Note if the cover crop roots are growing though heavy layers or not. This information can help determine what types of cover crop species to grow in the future to deal with different goals such as compaction.

IF YOU DIDN‘T GROW A COVER CROP, consider planting one
In all climates, but certainly in milder climates, after small grains is a great time to utilize a cover crop in your cropping system. To maximize this window, it is essential to have your plan in place. This is because the best time to seed your cover crop is right after harvest, ideally before a timely rain. The earlier your cover crop is established the greater the opportunity for soil health benefits and biomass generation. Three considerations you should make to maximize benefits are selecting a cover crop seed mixture that reflects your soil needs, assessing weather impacts, and determining which crop you are planting next.

One effective way to decide what cover crop species or mixes to go with is as easy as going out in your field with a spade, digging, and examining your soil. It is important to listen to your soil. Your soils will tell you information about your operation. If you notice salts which look like white specs or have areas that are problematic water areas, you may want to work on water management within your soil profile. In this case you most likely want to look at a grass crop, small grain, or cereal rye which can over winter and continue to utilize water. If you are noticing compaction layers out in your field, you may want to focus on compaction. Perhaps in this situation you may want to seed a cover crop mix which may include a diverse group of grasses, oats, etc. While also incorporating a radish or turnip which would allow for the natural force of these plants to bust up compaction. If you notice a lack of aggregation in your soil perhaps you want to focus on building aggregation. To help build aggregation you may want to plant a cover crop mix including a variety of species including ones with deep fibrous root systems to promote a healthy environment for soil biology.

Weather is another important consideration when selecting to plant a cover crop post-harvest. In a wet year you may want to plant a diverse cover crop mix that will utilize moisture from throughout the soil profile. As well as utilizing excess moisture promoting the resilience of your farm. If the opposite is true in a dry season and moisture is at a premium. It is important to consider if you have the moisture available to establish your cover crop.

Finally, remember the crop you plan to follow the cover crop with. It is important to keep this in mind as you do not want to plant something that will cause issues down the line. A couple of items to note are potential diseases that could be detrimental to your next crop that your cover crop could be a host for. Also consider grain contamination that could occur from growing something like rye on a field intended to go into small grain production.

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KEVIN: Absolutely. The best time to start regenerative ag practices is last year, and the next best time is today. The easiest thing to start with is creating a plan to have continuously growing roots throughout the growing season. Including something like Italian ryegrass in with your oats, in this case, is an easy thing to do. If you are concerned about nutrient tie up from growing a low-density biennial grass that is going to winter kill, throw in some subterranean clover with it. Now you have a nitrogen fixer that’s going to be feeding the Italian ryegrass and the oats, build your mycorrhizae, tie up the excess nitrates in the soil, and get that soil health process started.

OLIVIA: Are there recommendations for cover crop seed mixtures that work particularly well?

KEVIN: I’m always looking to pick species that are going to be growing below the cutting bar of the crop we’re dealing with. If we’re leaving 12 inches of stubble, I want to pick the species that are going to grow less than 12 inches tall. Subterranean clover is a no brainer because it only grows one or two inches high. Italian rye grass takes about 40 days for it to get up and going, so it will remain underneath the main crop canopy. Unless you get a year where it doesn’t stop raining all summer, it’s going to be in the range of 2 to 4 inches tall underneath the canopy. Species like hairy vetch will vine up and grow into the top part of the canopy; that’s not going to be fun to manage. Putting in sunflowers, once again, they’re tall and going to pop up above the canopy. Stay away from the brassicas (and collards) in your crop until after harvest because they are scavengers and will take nutrients away from your oats. Post-harvest you can put turnips and radishes in, assuming you’re not going to canola after that. Go through and identify which species are going to be nice and low growing.

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But what exactly is Regenerative Agriculture, what does the philosophy entail, and how does our company and its growers support it? In the last several years, customers, farmers, and other stakeholders have shown increasing interest in making tangible steps toward reducing their carbon footprint. Regen Ag takes sustainable agriculture practices a step further by instituting and tracking the results of carbon-reducing farming methods.

In addition to reducing or negating carbon output and contributing to growers’ bottom lines, farmers have been using regenerative agriculture practices for years to build and maintain soil health and reduce soil erosion.

Regenerative agriculture practices also sequester carbon from the atmosphere, which can result in a negative carbon footprint by retaining more carbon than is emitted. How do we do this?

Through crop rotations, the use of cover crops, and reduced tillage. Some farmers have been instituting these practices for years; however others have not adopted them for various reasons. As part of our program, Busch Grains supports farmer-led organizations that provide resources to farmers–from cost shares to mentorship programs and field days. In partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa, farmers in our program have access to resources, mentorships, and cost share programs that make sustainable farming even more accessible.

One of our growers, Ben Dwire, has been a member of our Sustainability Program for three years. Ben and Kristi, his wife, are both fourth generation farmers. They started their own farm together in 2005. Their farm is currently on a three-year rotation of corn, soybeans, and small grains–predominantly oats. In addition to supplying oats, Ben also raises soybeans for Busch Grains. He says that sustainable agriculture practices that include a small grain, such as oats, reduces crop disease and pests by breaking the pest cycle. Growing oats also allows them to get a full season of a cover crop, which vastly improves soil health. “Oats just make all the other crops look good,” Ben says.

Especially in times of drought, no-till and cover crop practices allow the soil to absorb the small amount of water that collects during brief bursts of rain. The residue that builds up on the soil’s top layer gives the water sufficient time to sink in.

As for growers who would like to get started with Regenerative Ag practices but may not know where to begin, Ben says that a program like Busch Grains + Practical Farmers of Iowa is a great place to start. The program takes some of the risk out of sustainable agriculture practices through cost share for cover crops and through educational programs that provide information to those starting out. “It’s nothing that anyone couldn’t do. There’s no special secret,” Ben states.

So why do environmentally friendly farming techniques matter for Busch Grains customers? Our consumers everywhere increasingly want to know that the brands they’re buying from are taking steps to reduce their emissions. The supply chain starts with our growers–and when they’re farming with Regen Ag practices, the products your customers eat are contributing to a more sustainable future.

We are excited to share more information with you about our growers and the Regen Ag program. Contact Beth Stebbins with any questions at 952.983.1279 or bethany.stebbins@grainmillers.com.

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Since the purchase of Busch Grains’ first ever location in Eugene, OR in 1986, we have grown not only in terms of square, production, markets, and technical advancements, but even more so, in skill and expertise. Our employees across North America personify Busch Grains – whether they’ve been with us for fifteen, thirty, or three years, they are millers at heart with a deep understanding of the commodities they mill, the equipment they operate and the finished ingredients they produce. 

As our 35th anniversary approaches, we want to outline some of our milestones and accomplishments, including the evolution of our mill locations over the years. Each step along the way made our company what it is today, and we are proud to share our journey with you.

1980s – Foundations

In 1986, Busch Grains’ purchased its first property: Zellner Milling in Eugene, Oregon. This was quickly followed by the acquisition of the mill formerly known as NorOats in Ansgar, Iowa.

 

In addition to establishing Busch Grains’ presence in the Midwest and opening up East coast markets, the mill also became the largest employer in the region. Today, it’s known for its impressive size and cleanliness, and is widely recognized as the most technically advanced oat mill in North America.

2000s – Innovation & Growth

The first year of the millennium, 2001, was an important year for Busch Grains. With the purchase of a mill in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, we added 58 new employees to our family. The mill is an “origin mill,” meaning that the oats are delivered directly from local farms to the mill by truck, limiting farmer risk and better protecting their interests.

 

In the same year, Busch Grains constructed its Eugene MPF, bringing chemical-free and organic oat fiber to the marketplace. Our scientists and technical specialists made a breakthrough discovery when they developed a proprietary mechanical process that produced the first ever organic oat fiber without the use of chemical treatment.

In 2004, Busch Grains purchased our St. Peter cleaning facility, adding the capability to export organic and Non-GMO soybeans that are purchased directly from Midwest American growers.

 

Our expansion continued with the commission of the St. Ansgar C-Mill in 2007, which doubled production capabilities with all-new equipment and set the tone for an elevated level of scale & scope in the areas of ingredient production and food safety. 

2010s – Expansion

Busch Grains’ C-mill investment in St. Ansgar was followed by the 2011 St. Ansgar warehouse expansion, which also added a can line to the production facility. In 2010, the company purchased a mill in Marion, Indiana, which allowed entrance to the organic and Non-GMO corn market. In 2012, the company completed the another warehouse expansion there, increasing storage capacity for Non-GMO products by 93,910 square feet, and increasing packaged material production by 36% since 2010.

In the same year, Busch Grains added Enreco, based in Newton, WI, to its facilities. This marked our entrance into the whole and ground flax seed market. This venture expanded in 2013 with the purchase of the Saskatoon flax facility, which expanded our purchasing and cleaning capabilities of whole and ground flax seed.

In 2014, 2 facility expansions were completed: the Yorkton facility addition and the St. Ansgar MPF facility. In St. Ansgar, the completion of this fiber plant expanded our production capacity for chemical-free and organic oat fibers and specialty flours to a second location. Both expansions allowed Busch Grains to provide more employment opportunities to area residents. Between 2001 and 2014, both Yorkton and Saskatoon locations saw a 94% increase of salaried employees; by 2015, that number had increased to 124%.

 

We continued expanding and improving in 2015 with the addition of color sorting and conveyance technology at our St. Peter, MN, facility. We also expanded the capacity of our Marion, IN, warehouse in 2016, adding maintenance and cleaning upgrades in eastward and westward expansions.

Gluten-Free Investment

In 2013 and 2016, we were proud to install new equipment lines at our Yorkton and St. Ansgar facilities that allowed for the production of Gluten-Free oat products, serving our Gluten-Free and gluten sensitive customers by expanding our capabilities to meet their needs at double the purity required by the FDA.

Today

In 2021, we are proud to note that our expansions over the years mean that our team of committed technicians has grown significantly. Since 2001, the number of employees at our Yorkton, Saskatoon, and Rycroft locations has seen a marked 265% increase from 2001 and a 63% increase from 2015.

In addition to this growth in our staff, we also commissioned a B-mill at our Yorkton facility in 2020. 

Our 35th anniversary isn’t just a celebration of our success. It’s a celebration of the relationships we’ve built with customers, a dedicated team, and the communities we serve. We look forward to sharing more of our story in 2021.

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Explore the art of making organic rolled oats at Busch Grains.

When you picture a traditional bowl of oatmeal, you’re probably picturing rolled, “old-fashioned” oats. Their recognizable shape and delicious toasted taste makes for a classic bowl that you can dress up–or dress down–however you like. Ever wondered how Busch Grains processes rolled oats, or how many different varieties there are? We’ll walk you through it.

After oats are dehulled (the process that separates the oat’s husk from its groat) they’re cleaned and kilned. Then, whole grain groats begin their own journey towards perfection. They’re steamed and then rolled through a flaker to impart their quintessential flat shape and wholesome flavor. The flaking process can produce a variety of oat products, from quick-cooking rolled oats to thick rolled oats, depending on how our highly-skilled operators set up the flaker.

A great source of soluble fiber due to the presence of beta glucans, all of our varieties of rolled oats are a heart-healthy choice when it comes to getting your whole grains.

Before flaking, our quick rolled oats are made cut from whole oat groats (aka steel cut oats). Those cut groats are then rolled slightly thinner than their regular rolled counterparts. These smaller, thinner flakes absorb water much faster and cook in as little as two minutes. If you’re looking for oatmeal that will be ready even faster, try our instant rolled oats, which are made from our smallest pieces of steel cut and rolled very thin. This results in the quickest cooking time in the rolled oat family (just add hot water or milk!). Seeking a denser bite? We also offer an industry-first quick-cooking steel cut that creates a texture-rich and nutrient-dense oat product that’s perfect for breads, energy bars, granola, and hot cereal.

A great source of soluble fiber due to the presence of beta glucans, all of our varieties of rolled oats are a heart-healthy choice when it comes to getting your whole grains. Not only are they delicious at breakfast time (or dinner–be honest, we’ve all been there), they’re also an incredibly versatile cooking and baking ingredient. Our baby rolled oats are the perfect nutritional addition to baked goods, and make a beautiful topping to sweet treats. They’re also ideal for instant oatmeal due to their high-absorption rate. Our signature oat crush, made from shredded oat flakes, adds texture and acts as a thickening agent in cooking or baking due to its flour-like consistency.

Regular rolled oats, the essential “old-fashioned” oats, are most widely known for making a delicious bowl of breakfast cereal. Old-fashioned oats cook faster than most steel-cut oats, making them an excellent option for quick-cooking oat products.

Their rich flavor and unique texture also makes them perfect for granola bars, cookies, muffins, flatbreads, cereals, and beverages. They also perform wonderfully in savory recipes, such as the base for a veggie burger patty. No matter how you’re using them, our rolled oats provide the flavor and nutrition you can expect from Busch Grains.

As always, Busch Grains prides itself on delivering consistent, quality oat products that meet customer specifications every time. Whether you’re getting quick cooking, regular, thick, or baby rolled oats, Busch Grains’ organic rolled oats are always flavorful, aromatic, and perfectly toasted.

To learn more about the art of milling, read more here.

Email us or give us a call to get in contact with an oat expert!

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Procurement

We buy directly from the farmers whenever possible. Before the oats even make it to our facility, we have already invested in helping our farmers grow the best possible crop. Our procurement strategy provides a dependable market for the farmer, gives them access to our direct delivery points and provides both parties with the opportunity to build the most important part of any business transaction—a strong, long-lasting relationship. Busch Grains’ crop scientists work with farmers to ensure that they’re growing the best oat variety for their environment, managing everything from soil testing to seed identification. Our free and voluntary Sustainable Grower Program helps farmers improve their operations, which in turn means our customers get an uncompromised quality of oats.

Cleaning

Oats are transported to our mills by rail and truck. Upon entering the mill, oats are immediately cleaned and sorted to remove any foreign material that made its way to the mill from the farm. In this process, oats pass through various types of equipment specifically designed to remove contaminants.

Dehulling

Here’s where the fun comes in: inside of our dehulling equipment, the oats are launched against a rubber ring which compresses the oat end to end and pops off the outer hull layer, leaving only the internal kernel known as a “groat” (the yummy part). Our mill operators are trained to balance throughput and dehulling speed, aiming for high efficiency of hull removal that doesn’t result in too many broken groats. 

Kilning (It’s what makes the oats taste good)

Kilning, or running groat material through a steam-heated kiln, serves two purposes: Although it is primarily used to ensure shelf stability to neutralize the enzymes that lead to rancidity, it also adds that great traditional toasty oat flavor we are known for. Busch Grains has over thirty years of experience perfecting the art of time and temperature when it comes to the kilning of our oats, and that expertise is apparent in our finished products.

Separation and Flaking

After kilning, our freshly toasted groats are separated into whole oat groats and broken groats. The latter are used to make steel cut oats of various sizes, but we can also “cut” whole groats into steel cut, if needed. When we produce Certified Gluten-free oats, extra cleaning is performed to remove any traces of glutenous foreign grains such as wheat, barley, or rye. To learn more about Gluten-free oats, click here!

Next comes the flaking process, where the magic continues, during which the groats are rolled into specific products for our discerning customers.

Our operators know how to make specific adjustments to our equipment to meet all of our customers’ requirements everytime. Whole oat groats become either thick rolled or regular rolled oats, depending on specifications and flaker settings. Steel cut groats become quick cooking or instant oats. We have the ability to customize mill these products to produce various thicknesses, absorptions and particle sizes based on our customer’s demands. 

At this stage, both types of groats can also be sent to the bran mill to become oat bran or whole oat flour, two products that remain favorites with our customers.

Testing and Packaging

Before packaging, we ensure that nothing compromises the quality and consistency of our products. At every stage of our validated system, our employees use Busch Grains’ customer-designed control screens that are specific to our unique processes. Our customized production software allows us to quickly access traceability info for every ton at a moment’s notice. Our on-site quality teams are the last line of defense between our mills and our customer’s products—this team takes their jobs very seriously. All our products are samples and tested to ensure they meet our customer’s specifications and expectations. This combination of the latest technology, internal process control and process data collection along with well-trained, experienced operators and lab techs make Busch Grains products—consistently delicious every time. 

In the final step in the process, oat products are packaged into various retail and food service size packages up to our industrial sizes of 25 lb. bags, 50 lb. bags, totes (supersacks), and railcars or bulk trucks.

Our People

No part of the milling process would be what it is without the great people who work directly with farmers and keep our mills running 24/7. With plenty of reasons to stay with us for the long haul—from participating in producing healthy products, to plenty of opportunities for career growth—it’s no surprise that many of our employees have been with us for 20+ years. The dedication of our employees is what sets us apart, and our customers directly benefit from their high level of commitment and performance.

The Busch Grains difference happens because our passionate group of people make good things happen all along the way—from farm to table.

Email us or give us a call to get in contact with an oat expert!

The post The Art of Milling at Busch Grains’ Specialized Facilities appeared first on Busch Grains.

…Busch Grains offers a wide selection of ingredients to produce customized blends, including oats, fiber, barley, red and white wheat, flax, triticale, rye, rice, pumpkin and sesame seeds, and white and yellow corn.

Convenient                                                                  

With blending facilities strategically located on-site at both our Eugene, Oregon and St. Ansgar, Iowa mills, Busch Grains offers a wide selection of ingredients to produce customized blends, including oats, fiber, barley, red and white wheat, flax, triticale, rye, rice, pumpkin and sesame seeds, and white and yellow corn. If you have an existing blend you’d like us to match, we’ll meet your specific function and label requirements. If you’re looking to create a new mix, we’re happy to work directly with you and your team to help formulate the right combination for your specific needs. We are well-versed in the procurement, production and blending of Certified Organic and gluten-free ingredients and we are directly involved in the supply chain in a way that guarantees that any imported commodities are audited by our in-house team, FSMA approved and supplied with the same food safety and security as products from our industry leading mills.

Cost-Effective

When you choose a value-added blend instead of formulating with individualized ingredients, you save on procurement, inventory, storage, transportation and packaging costs, significantly reducing the final cost of the product while also minimizing shipping issues.

For shipping, you have plenty of cost-saving options. After your blend is completed and ready to ship, your product can be delivered via bulk truck, placed into industrial totes, or into various bag sizes. Tap into our retail packaging services for even more cost savings.

Good Things For Good People

As the world’s largest organic oat processor, we take pride not only in supplying good things for good people but also by making that process as smooth as possible. With mills on both the West Coast and in the Midwest, your products can be manufactured closest to you.

If you’d like to find out more information on custom blends or you’d like to contact one of our experts, check out this page.

Email us or give us a call at 541.687.8000 to get in contact with an expert.

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From discovering food sensitivities and allergies to setting new personal nutrition goals, the American diet is constantly evolving. The need for healthy, allergen-free alternatives is growing with these changing food preferences and requirements. One area that we have seen a particularly significant need for alternative options is the dairy industry. For those with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies, it can be difficult to gain the proper nutrition typically found in dairy products, and it can be even more rare to enjoy food products akin to milk, yogurt, or frozen desserts when one is avoiding dairy. In addition, these products are often highly restricted within dieting programs focused on weight loss and controlling heart disease, as they are typically high in fat and cholesterol.

Once again, oats play the hero in providing a solution for this challenge. Oat products, functional flours and oat fiber possess a variety of characteristics that make them ideal in formulations for dairy-free alternatives. Busch Grains’ Oat Fiber, Oat Hydrocolloid, Micro-Ground Oat Bran, Colloidal Whole Oat Flour, Low Viscosity Whole Oat Flour, hydrolyzed oat flour and CereSweet® are instrumental in achieving the ideal texture, taste, and nutritional composition of dairy-free products.

As an added bonus, Busch Grains’ oats are free from other common allergens, including gluten, soy, and nuts! Soy and nuts, such as almonds and cashews, are commonly used to provide dairy-free alternative products, but these products are not marketable to the large portion of the population with nut allergies. Oats are naturally free from gluten and are available gluten-free.

Busch Grains’ functional oat flours are available in a variety of viscosities to achieve a range of textures…

Texture

One persisting obstacle is achieving the ideal texture in alternative food products. Fortunately, oats can deliver a versatile range of textures, functioning in a variety of ways in different forms. Busch Grains’ functional oat flours are available in a variety of viscosities to achieve a range of textures. Our Oat Hydrocolloid contains gelling and emulsifying properties, while our Colloidal Whole Oat Flour acts as a thickener in sauces, soups, and dry mix beverage products. Our low-viscosity flours perform well in creamer formulations to achieve the ideal mouthfeel and low sugar formulas—though this is determined in part by the processing system being utilized. Many of our functional oat flours can be used to develop a smoothie with the ideal texture, and we offer oat bran, including Micro-Ground Oat Bran in customizable particle sizes, which can be combined with other synergistic ingredients to obtain differing textures.

Taste

Due to its high fat content, it can be a significant challenge to obtain the rich mouthfeel typically associated with cow’s milk. Busch Grains’ functional oat flours have been formulated to achieve a range of mouthfeel and flavors, from neutral toasted oat to sweet (40-50% of table sugar). In particular, our CereSweet contributes malty, sweet notes to beverages with low solids (>2%). This makes oat flour an ideal replacement for ingredients high in sugar and fat—offering a desirable flavor while maintaining superior nutritive properties.

Nutrition

Oats are lower in fat than cow’s milk and are much higher in fiber, making them far easier to digest (a common obstacle for those with lactose sensitivities). Oat milk also contains more protein than other plant-based milks, such as almond or rice milk. Our oat flour products offer a functional, nutritional, GI-tract-friendly solution for dairy-free formulations. For example, our Functional Flours function as effective fat replacements and taste enhancements for beverages with varying solids (e.g. >5%), such as meal replacement beverages.

All of our products are non-GMO and available in both Organic and Conventional forms, as well as optionally Gluten-free…

At Busch Grains, all of our products are non-GMO and available in both Organic and Conventional forms, as well as optionally Gluten-free. With our single-source advantage, we are positioned to provide our partners with quality ingredients, tailored formulations, and personalized expertise in research and development of new products.

If you would like to request a sample or further discuss Busch Grains’ oat fiber or functional oat flour ingredients within your application, we look forward to learning more. We specialize in partnering with food and beverage developers to create unique, innovative ingredients that help you succeed.

Email us or give us a call at 541.687.8000 to get in contact with an expert.

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