However, to really understand how the crop is looking we need to examine the rainfall over the growing year. To the right is a table that shows the precipitation in Salem, Oregon, over the last five crop years.


When looking at precipitation, there are two critical periods for seed production, fall and spring. Te rainfall that is received between November-February is largely irrelevant as the grass plants are generally in winter dormancy and not actively growing. Te Fall critical period is more important for tall fescue than other grasses as the precipitation is needed to develop new tillers prior to vernalization. Seed yield from tall fescue can be estimated by the number of new tillers heading into the middle of January. Te Spring critical period is important as that is the precipitation that ultimately allows the seed crop to develop.


So, when you look at the 2020-21 averages compared to the five-year average you will see that during the Fall critical period, we only received 45 percent of the average rainfall. Tat spells potential bad news for the tall fescue crop. Ten when we look at the Spring critical period, we are only at 48 percent of the five-year average with six days left in May. Tese two deficits are likely to lead to a smaller crop than average on the dryland acres which constitute the bulk of the Willamette Valley production.


Tere is however a glimmer of hope as much of the rainfall in May has been concentrated during the third week. Tis should provide enough moisture in the soil for the tall fescue crop to get through pollination and keep the perennial ryegrass from getting too stressed at the current head emergence stage. Average to above average precipitation in the first half of June is needed for the perennial ryegrass crop to develop and to maximize the tall fescue crop.


Te good news is that the seed that we will harvest should be cleaner than normal as growers have had a plethora of dry days for spot spraying out contaminants. I cannot recall when the last year was that I saw so many spot spraying crews out in March and April removing annual ryegrass and other troublesome weeds from the field. Te Oregon farmer has really stepped up and is spending money to make the best out of a potentially bad situation.


28 TPI Turf News July/August 2021


Ten there was the ice storm in February that closed roads and ripped down power lines.


JONATHAN GREEN, INC.


Provided by Bruce Rose, Cascade International Seed Company and Barry Green


Western Oregon has had a rough year. Wildfires in September burned over 100,000 acres of forest and filled our valleys with smoke.


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