Group Grows And Processes Oats

Group Grows And Processes Oats Upper Midwest farmers frustrated by a lack of markets for oats are establishing their own markets and a processing facility. Known as the Oat Mafia, these farmers grew 6,000 acres of oats in Minnesota and surrounding states in 2025. While that’s a tiny fraction of the total crop acres in the five states, it’s a growing fraction. “This year, we expect to increase acres by 25 to 30%,” says Martin Larsen, co-founder. “We have some first-time growers, while many of our current members are expanding their acres.” Larsen and other members of the Oat Mafia are among 136 investors in Green Acres Milling. The processing plant under construction in Albert Lea, Minn., is planned to process up to 4 million bushels of oats annually. The goal is to fill a processing gap left by large agricultural companies and aggregated production, mainly in Canada. It’ll create a new market for regional oats and a source of domestically produced oat products for the supply chain. Products will include oat groats, flour, flakes, raw oats and residuals like oat hulls. “The structure is up, and equipment is being installed,” says Larsen. “The time frame is to be operating in August.” According to CEO and majority owner Landon Plagge, Green Acres had already secured most of its needed supply by September of last year. Unlike other oat product suppliers, Green Acres will process only oats, eliminating concerns about cross-product contamination. Oat Mafia oats will meet the strict premium requirements Green Acres has set. In addition to being regeneratively grown, growers pledge not to use glyphosate as a desiccant. The crop is tested for the chemical during vegetative growth and at harvest. Oats processed at the plant will be identity-preserved. Buyers, and potentially end users or consumers, will be able to trace products back to the farms that grew the oats. Building demand for their oats remains a challenge. However, the Oat Mafia has received a lot of regional and national media attention. Increasing interest in regenerative agriculture and the fact that oats align with that approach, helps bolster their efforts. Additionally, the idea of a grassroots group of producers exploring new markets adds to the momentum. The new processing plant could be key to turning that attention into actual sales. “Every time we get a national news story, it attracts potential buyers like bakers in New York,” says Larsen. “They may be attracted to our lack of glyphosate or our emphasis on domestic production. We talk about how oats benefit water quality and soil health. The story is more than just oats.” Larsen highlights the importance of differentiating the oats they produce from commercial production, which is mostly in Canada. If successful in marketing what the group produces, Larsen expects rapid growth. “There are a lot more farmers waiting for a market,” says Larsen. He notes a side benefit for those who have joined the group. “There are a number of members who are always trying something new for their farm, whether winter camelina, sunflowers or other crops,” says Larsen. “Other concepts are also being tried, such as soybeans planted behind oats or buckwheat and the benefit of pollinators. With the network, there’s always information being shared.” To learn more, join The Oat Mafia Facebook group. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Martin Larsen, 8331 County Rd. 117 SW, Byron, Minn. 55920 (ph 507-269-5699; mlarsen.farm@gmail.com; https://www.facebook.com/groups/995231188865240) or Green Acres Milling, 360 E. 14th St., Albert Lea, Minn. 56007 (www.greenacresmilling.com).

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