While most of the oats in Manitoba were harvested in good shape this year, it was a different story for crops in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) President Art Enns says there was still quite a bit of the crop remaining in the field in those two provinces when the wet weather hit during harvest.

He adds quality is going to be a big question for the 2016 crop.

Enns, who is also the president of the Manitoba Oat Growers Association (MOGA), notes when it comes to the markets, prices have really strengthened since off the combine.

He say right now there's good interest for oats across the globe.

"Mexico has really upped the oat imports this year. We're almost double what we normally are and we're out there doing a little bit of promotion of our products out there and there's indication they'll even be taking a lot more," explained Enns. "China has also expressed interest, so we have to get market access approval over there."

Enns says oat acres were down about 20 per cent across western Canada this year, noting there is a lot of competition from other crops.

POGA held its annual general meeting December 1 in Hecla, Manitoba.