Because oats tolerate cool, wet weather so well, they’re a cover crop darling this year. But tips for fall management will cause fewer spring headaches.Peter Johnson, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Cereal Specialist, says oats that are planted August 1st and left until November 1st, will become stemmy and difficult for soil microbes to effectively breakdown but offer organic matter levels comparable to a 100 bu/ac wheat crop. To get 80-90% of that organic matter, without the accompanying cold and wet soils in the spring, consider chopping the oats when they’re knee high. Burn down the regrowth in the fall to encourage rapid breakdown further. Johnson also adds that, even as a cover crop, oats still need at least 30 lbs of nitrogen but not extra seed (70 lbs per acre seems to be lots) for best results.