distributors in North America report having an ok spring but nothing record-setting. Tere has been downward pressure on grass seed prices. Orders are being placed for summer/late summer delivery as customers are looking to replace seed moved this spring. Export business to Europe and China has been slow with some recent activity picking up from China as their high-priced inventory is also being consumed. Projections are that prices will remain flat where they are today for most cool-season grasses.
DLF/SEED RESEARCH OF OREGON
Provided by Leah Brilman, PhD, Director of Research and Technical Services
Last fall we did not get rain until late and then it went cold, so we did not get normal regrowth on grass fields. We are again in a cold, wet spring and early on it looked like the crop would be late. We then had rapid development of hot conditions followed by warmer conditions, but dry ones. Te crop has really sped up, so we are only about one week behind but getting low on moisture in some fields. Seedheads are forming down in the canopy and many of the plants look smaller than usual. Good conditions during pollination and growth can compensate for some of this. Tere are big differences in development stages on the valley floor vs. up in the hills which are definitely later.
Growers are finding it harder to find crews to work fields for weeds and those available are much more expensive. New overtime rules are going into effect in Oregon which will make this even harder. Due to the dry conditions last fall, some growers backed off on some of their herbicides since they were afraid they would damage the crop. It will be even more of a challenge to buy weed and crop-free grass seed.
GO SEED Provided by Jerry Hall, President
Te impact of weather conditions on plant growth is depicted in this two- photo view from DLF/SRO. Tis photo shows a bentgrass production field in late April.
DLF/SRO shares this photo of the bentgrass production field taken on May 23, 2023, a striking improvement.
Last year’s crop came in late due to a wet cold spring. During the first part of the season in the fall, it was difficult to get the crop harvested and cleaned and there had been little carryover. On perennial ryegrass and tall fescue, there is now good supply since yields were good, just a late crop. It has been difficult to get enough fine fescues planted and demand has been high, so check with the seed company for fine fescue needs. Yields on Kentucky bluegrass were good and recently more seed has come onto the market. Remember last year’s seed will not have the dormancy associated with a new crop, so if you want to seed in August or September and desire certain cultivars or quality buy your seed now.
Creeping bentgrass is the last crop harvested even in normal years and it is difficult to get it cleaned in time for fall sales. Last year it was late, and even though the fields looked good, it was only a normal crop. Te heat hit during pollination which may have influenced yields. Demand has been high for creeping bentgrass so make sure you have your needs covered if seeding before September.
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GO Seed notes that every cultivar brought into production has proven its value through intensive testing. Tis photo shows their 2020 introduction, Starr Kentucky bluegrass, a shining example in this test plot.
Fall of 2022 was a dry one for Western Oregon. When we finally received rain in late October, it immediately turned cold, and the plants quit growing. As we went into the winter, stands looked thin due to little post-harvest recovery. When the rains finally came, in typical Oregon fashion, they didn’t stop. Tis led to poor efficacy of fall- applied pre-emergent herbicides. Going into spring, most of the grass fields looked weak, so farmers applied less weed control herbicides out of fear of killing their poor stands.
Since April, we have been in a dry spell, and it is forecast to continue for the coming weeks. Now that we are in late
TPI Turf News July/August 2023
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