TURF MERCHANTS, INC. (TMI) Provided by Nancy Aerni, Vice President
Oregon, we have a different scenario with water right wars in several counties where the Poa trivialis crop is produced. It seems most farmers are receiving around 20 percent of their normal water allotments this year within those counties, devastating to their operations. In addition, the Klamath Basin is also amid a record drought, which is pitting farmers against native tribes with historic water rights to protect endangered species of fish. Farmers of all crops and ranchers in these areas are united in finding a way to preserve their way of life and sustain a living for all.
BlueMagic, a New American Type Bluegrass cultivar introduced by TMI in 2021, shows off its dark green color in this turfgrass research plot.
Higher costs, limited availability of just about everything, social distancing, Russia and Ukraine. What a rollercoaster ride we’ve been on this past year including everything from seed supply shortages to transportation delays.
Regarding turfgrass seed: We are entering this fall seed season with no carryover in virtually every specie—which is unprecedented in history. What this means to you; that we will be waiting for new crop seed to be mature, cut, dried, processed, and tested and then hope we have enough transportation equipment available when the new crop of seed is ready. I anticipate tensions will be running high in order to get seed shipped to you in as timely a manner as possible. Be patient with your seed supplier—they will be doing the best they can.
Weather: Tis April and May our weather has, thus far, been more typical of what we are accustomed to here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, unlike last year when we were in extreme drought in the spring followed by a week of unprecedented heat in June. It has been raining in Oregon and now, in mid-May, it’s time for it to stop! We even saw spitting snow mixed in with rain the beginning of May. Temperatures remain mostly in the upper 50s to the low 60s as an average. You can actually see the grass growing this year.
It is a bit early to provide an accurate estimate of the crop, but all indicators are that we will be seeing what we consider a fair average crop overall. Within the Valley, there are scattered reports of some fields showing damage from last year’s heat event and mice and voles continue to be a problem. A slightly above average crop would be very welcomed considering this past year of disappointments. Now on the East Side of the Cascade Mountains of
TPI Turf News July/August 2022
Washington state is the largest producing state of Kentucky Bluegrass including “dryland” Kentucky bluegrass acreage. Irrigated acreage in Washington/ Idaho is looking average, though some
“circles” were lost. A pivot irrigation circle is equivalent to approximately 125 acres, or an average of 150,000 pounds of final clean Bluegrass seed.
Other producing regions: Canada – Production looked good going into winter this year. A later crop than what is typical is evident due to weather patterns. Midwest – Very much the same as the Canadians are experiencing.
To break all the above down to Specie Relevance: Perennial Ryegrass appears to be an average, perhaps slightly above average crop. Tall Fescue acreage is spotty with last year’s heat event affecting fields. Overall consensus is an average crop. Kentucky Bluegrass – Irrigated fields are looking good while dryland acreage is reduced and looking marginal at best. Fine Fescue – (Oregon) – Two years of extremely limited burning leaves a big question on how well this crop will reproduce for this harvest. Creeping Bentgrass – A few varieties were affected by the heat of last year, but with inventory and the crop in the ground looking good, we do not anticipate any shortages. Poa trivialis – Very little seed will be available due to water restrictions in producing areas.
Pricing: Production farmers are experiencing the same higher input costs as you, the sod producers, are. While we have experienced the highest cost seed in our lives this past year, time will tell as our world resources become more readily available, as to where new crop costs will land.
All photos and graphics were provided by the supplier company unless otherwise noted.
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