U.S. farmers produced about 16 percent of the total world oats production during 1980-85, down from more than 29 percent during 1960-64 when the United States was the largest producer. During that same time, world oats production dropped from about 49.5 million metric tons to about 45.3 million metric tons. The United States, Soviet Union, and Canada produced more than 58 percent of total world oats production during 1980-85. U.S. oats production is now second to that of the Soviet Union. The value of U.S. oats grain production dropped from 3d among all grains in 1950 to 16th in 1985. The yield per acre has tended to increase by 0.7 bushel per year, but the number of acres harvested for grain has trended downward by 955,000 acres per year. This report describes the U.S. oats industry from producers to consumers and provides a single source of economic and statistical information on oats.