This report describes the United States oats industry from producers to consumers and provides a single source of economic and statistical information on oats. Background information on oats is provided first. The report then examines the basic factors of supply, demand, and price to determine what caused the decline in the importance of oats and how smoothly it was made. Other sections highlight the marketing system (assembly, storage, handling, grading and inspection, transportation, processing, and exporting), costs, government policy and programs, and world trade for oats (production, consumption, stocks, and trade). The report includes 51 tables within the text and 13 appendix tables. A listing of references is also appended. (YLB)