(Credit: Lynn Ketchum)
Corvallis, OR (February 2025) - Grass seed is commonly used to establish and maintain lawns in residential, commercial and public spaces, providing aesthetic appeal and recreational areas. It is essential for creating durable and resilient surfaces for sports fields, including golf courses, soccer fields and baseball diamonds. Grass seed is used to grow forage crops for livestock, providing a nutritious food source for animals.
Estimated at $639 million, the Oregon grass seed industry ranked fourth among Oregon’s most valuable agricultural commodities in 2022. Oregon is the world's leading producer of cool-season forage and turf grass seeds. The state produces nearly all the U.S. commercial production of annual ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, bentgrass and fine fescue.
The Willamette Valley is often referred to as the "grass seed capital of the world." The valley’s temperate climate, with wet winters and dry summers, provides ideal conditions for growing cool-season forage and turf grass seeds.
Oregon State University, through its Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension Service, plays a crucial role in supporting the state’s grass seed growers through various initiatives and research programs. OSU collaborates with industry organizations like the Oregon Grass Seed Commissions to address the challenges faced by growers and to promote the industry's growth and sustainability.
OSU conducts extensive research on various aspects of grass seed production, including pest and disease management, crop improvement and sustainable farming practices. This research helps growers improve yields and maintain the quality of their products.
OSU Extension offers educational programs, workshops and resources to grass seed growers. These services help farmers stay updated on best practices, new technologies, and regulatory changes.
OSU researchers are developing modern solutions for seed purity analysis. They are working on a computer vision system for real-time, onsite seed analysis, which aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of seed testing.
The Endophyte Service Lab at OSU helps growers manage endophytes, fungi that live inside grass plants and can produce toxins harmful to livestock. This lab provides valuable research and support to ensure safe and high-quality grass seed production.
The gray-tailed vole, a pest causing significant crop damage, has led to $35-$50 million in yield losses in Oregon's grass seed industry. Control methods have been limited, prompting a multi-year project to develop tools for quantifying vole damage using aerial imagery and testing alternative rodenticides.
Preliminary results show promise in identifying damaged areas and improving vole management practices. This research aims to secure a special pesticide label for vole control and enhance management practices.
Weeds compete with grass crops for essential resources such as light, water, nutrients, and space. This competition can reduce the growth and yield of grass seed crops. The presence of weeds can lower the quality of the harvested grass seed. Weed seeds can mix with grass seeds, making it difficult to achieve the purity standards required for commercial sale.
In response, OSU research in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences includes precision weed management, integrating advanced technologies like geographic information systems (GIS) and image analysis to improve weed control strategies. Examples include spot spraying technology, weed mapping and weed identification.
OSU Extension weed specialists are studying herbicide resistance in weeds, aiming to develop practical, science-based solutions for weed management challenges faced by grass-seed growers in Oregon.
OSU researches the use of near-infrared (NIR) technology to improve grass seed harvest efficiency. NIR technology is being adapted to measure seed moisture content accurately and rapidly. This is crucial for determining the optimal timing for swathing and combining, which can maximize seed yield and minimize losses due to shattering.
By using NIR technology, growers can better manage the variability in seed maturity within a single field. This helps in optimizing the harvest process, ensuring that seeds are harvested at the right moisture content to maintain quality and yield. Adoption of NIR technology can lead to more efficient harvest operations, reducing labor and equipment costs while improving the overall quality of the harvested seed.
OSU is in the final stages of developing a prototype moisture sensor based on near infrared spectroscopy that aims to provide accurate and real-time measurements of soil moisture levels, which is crucial for optimizing irrigation practices and improving crop yield. The sensor leverages advanced sensing technologies to offer precise data, helping grass seed growers make informed decisions about water management.
The successful grass seed industry in Oregon brings substantial economic benefits to the state. Economically, it supports around 10,000 jobs. Environmentally, the industry promotes soil health, water quality, erosion control and carbon sequestration. Socially, it provides recreational spaces and health benefits through green spaces.