WATERLOO - Golden oat fields have vanished statewide. Farmers and buyers say the harvest was one of the best in years.

Monday's U.S. Department of Agriculture Crops and Weather report indicated combines are now parked until corn and soybeans are ready. Oats made a comeback with 180,000 acres planted this year compared to an all-time low of 145,000 acres in 2007.

As of Aug. 1, the USDA said the average yield in the state was 67 bushels per acre.

Travis Jones of rural Basset said his 370 acres of oats did better than that. His fields averaged 89 bushels per acre with a typical test weight of 38 pounds per bushel.

"My oats were excellent," Jones said, crediting cool weather and timely moisture. "It's the best crop out of the last five to seven years."

Jones finished combining the first week of August. On average, the harvest was a few days behind normal.

Oats lost favor with Iowa farmers in the 1990s. Increases in corn and soybean yields along with more favorable government help for Iowa's two most popular crops - increasing profitability - led to the downfall of the cool-season grain. Changes in livestock production also meant less oats and straw were needed.

Jones, 26, raises oats as a cash and cover crop for new hay stands. He said it's a good alternative to corn and soybeans, especially for a young farmer who can't always afford premium ground. Oats can thrive in marginal soils.

And the best part is it's profitable, Jones said.

"Everything else costs so much to plant. At 75 to 80 bushels (per acre), you can make good money," he said.

Only 95,000 acres of oats were harvested for grain this year. The majority is chopped green for livestock feed.

The last government oat condition report rated the crop 3 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 53 percent good and 13 percent excellent.

Clair Rottinghaus, owner of The Mill in Nashua and Colwell, said yields varied from 60 to 90 bushels per acre in the area. The livestock feed supplier mostly purchases oats for horse and calf rations.

Oats are currently worth about $1.65 per bushel. However, Rottinghaus said prices tend to rise as local supplies run short.

"If farmers can wait until February or March, the market comes back. I buy a lot of oats from Canada, Minnesota and the Dakotas," Rottinghaus said.

Oats averaged $2.62 per bushel statewide in 2007 and about $2.30 last year regionally.