Fine Fescue: Fine fescue fields look good this year, certainly better than they have at this time in recent years due to timely moisture. Te crop in the Willamette Valley has been heading out for the past few weeks and stands are healthy and clean.
Creeping Bentgrass: Creeping bentgrass fields look particularly good. Winter and spring growth has been strong helping to choke out weeds. Annual bluegrass pressure is as present as ever, and growers will need to continue to spot- treat fields for control. Certified acres are up again this year by 5% compared to the 2024 crop.
Kentucky Bluegrass: Kentucky bluegrass fields are mixed and varied between production regions. Most irrigated fields look exceptionally good for a couple of reasons. Primarily, very favorable establishment conditions last year. Also lower number of seed production contracts have concentrated acres on the best fields. Tere is an uptick in certified acres this year. Madras, OR area has a full water allocation so reduced drought has allowed additional production to be placed. Te Columbia Basin production area is seeing greater challenges with Alkaligrass contaminate. Dryland fields are mixed, and most areas are still waiting for warmer weather for new growth to begin.
Bermudagrass: Southern California seed production is on target for a normal crop this year. Spring weather experienced wide ranging temperatures and expecting some delays in the crop harvest but not of any concern. Water allocations continue to be a topic to watch how it will impact crops in the Imperial Valley.
Market Report: Seed movement started slow this spring, due to sporadic weather events across the US and Canada. Distributors have been steady in orders as spring has emerged. Consumer confidence has waned this spring but doesn’t seem to be impacting purchasing. With the on and off tariff announcements to China the international shipments have been impacted leaving more seed in the warehouses than what would otherwise have moved the past 2 months.
Last year the spring market came to a halt in April and May with uncertainty of pricing. Tis year has remained more steady with good turnover. Concern remains with dealers as long inventories remain will high cost seed supply and market prices soft. Despite the current long supply positions of many turf species today, there is optimism that the turf seed supplies will begin to turn a corner if all goes as understood today and we should begin to see a re-balancing of supply and demand except for tall fescue.
GO SEED Provided by Jerry Hall, President
GO Seed’s 2024 Elite Kentucky Bluegrass introduction Bombay is flourishing, as seen in this close-up view of it in a seed production field.
High-quality turf type tall fescue and perennial ryegrass seed will be more difficult to come by in the coming year. Tere continues to be a decline in production acreage with very few plantings. In the past year, we experienced a shortage of seed of the best varieties for crop and weed-free seed as we have finally worked through the surpluses from previous years. Likewise, the movement of “contractor’s grade” seed has also been very good due to severe discounting. With limited new acres coming on, this quality of seed will also become more difficult to supply without blending. Tere remains a surplus of seed with crop or weed issues; this will keep the overall pricing somewhat soft for the coming year. So, we don’t see a price increase in the future, just the availability will be limited of the best and worst grades.
Te elite Kentucky Bluegrass varieties are likely to show pricing strength as the industry has worked through the surpluses. Little new acreage was planted a year ago, so the 2025-26 supply is going to be less than the previous year. I expect the industry will increase the production for the following crop year so any shortage will be likely just for the year. Te heading of the bluegrass fields looks to be good so we should realize a pretty good crop.
Seed yield as a whole looks to be what would be considered “normal.” Timely rains in early May likely averted any chance of a poor crop. Herbicides seem to be effective where used in controlling the most problematic weeds. If you require high-quality seed or newer genetics, I advise that you get your needs covered sooner rather than later.
TPI Turf News July/August 2025
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