MAYNARD -- The state's smallest oat crop ever and difficulties getting it in the ground will continue to pinch farmers that feed the small grain to livestock.

Government statistics show Iowa farmers intend to plant 140,000 acres of oats this spring, a 33 percent reduction from last year. According to Monday's U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather Report, only 58 percent of the crop has been planted, which is 10 days behind the five-year average.

George Cummins, an Iowa State University Extension crop specialist based in Charles City, said the delay due to cold and wet conditions will negatively impact yields 10 percent to 15 percent every week past April 15. That's bad news for both oat suppliers and buyers.

"With a cool-season grass like this, you like it to hit the reproductive phase before the hot, dry temperature stress hits," Cummins said. "With fewer and fewer acres, people will have to pay more for existing supplies."

Oat prices at area elevators have nearly doubled in the last few years due to limited local supply. On Monday, prices at area elevators ranged from $2.25 per bushel to $3.

Don't expect farmers to quit raising corn and soybeans and switch to the oats, though. Grain experts said there's still not enough profit and too much risk in raising the crop.

Iowa's climate isn't as conducive to raising oats as the Dakotas, Minnesota and Canada, where most of the oats used locally is imported from. Hot and humid days in June and July tends to reduce test weights, quality and yield. About half of the state's crop this year will mature during this time, lowering its chances for success.

The burgeoning ethanol industry is squeezing out oat acres, crop experts said. Iowa farmers are planting more high-dollar corn, in part, at the expense of oats. The 70,000-acre decline in oats this year was the largest in the nation.

"The market will dictate what's put in. That's what's happening -- it's hard for oats to compete," said Bob Engels, grain merchandiser with Farmers Cooperative, with locations in Rudd, Rockford and Marble Rock.

Decades ago, elevator officials said enough farmers raised oats to meet the their own needs as well as what elevators needed. That's definitely not the case now.

Northeast Iowa Cooperative -- with elevators in Maynard, Clermont, Elgin, Randalia and Sumner -- buys 4,000 to 5,000 bushels of oats a month for its feed mill and customers. Almost all is imported.

Rich Bishop, the co-op's grain merchandiser based in Maynard, said there isn't a problem finding oats yet, but the transportation costs are propping up the price. People with horses, dairy goats and cattle are the most affected, he said.

"It (oat shortage) will increase the price as we have to reach out farther to get it," Bishop said. "Now since we're almost in May, it's getting too late to plant oats that will be quality. If you're simply raising it to feed or as a cover crop, you're still fine."

Seven percent of the planted oats has emerged, the report indicated.

Warm, sunny and windy days last week aided in drying fields and planting progress, the report said. However, there were still plenty of wet fields being avoided.

Corn planting statewide is at 8 percent complete, which is five days behind last year's 23 percent.

Pastures are having a hard time growing after the cold days at the beginning of the month, officials said. Fields for grazing are rated 4 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 38 percent good and 5 percent excellent.

As far as livestock, the report said warm weather has dried feed lots, and calving conditions have greatly improved.

Contact Matthew Wilde at (319) 291-1579 or matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.