INDUSTRY TRENDS the availability of new acres in Oregon , Washington and Canada . We expect stable acres in Oregon and Minnesota , a slight increase in acres in the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington , but a limited supply of Kentucky bluegrass from dryland areas in Washington and Idaho . Canada is also reporting lower acres of fine fescue , perennial ryegrass , and tall fescue for harvest 2022 .
– Jonathan Kuenzi , seed production manager , Pratum Seed Companies
Alliance for Low Input Sustainable Turf ( A-LIST )
The comments I heard consistently this fall from many in the industry were , “ We ’ ve never seen anything like this before .” The last year represented the perfect storm of weather and crop issues combined with supply chain woes . Low yields and trucking / shipping issues hampered every facet of the grass seed industry from farm to field . Prices skyrocketed , but that didn ’ t mean the seed was available . When seed was available , it didn ’ t mean it could be shipped . Lack of containers and LTL trucks tripled pricing and extended delivery times . As we all know , seed shipments are time-sensitive , and even slight delays can often be catastrophic . The industry pulled together to do the best it could , but price adjustments happened frequently – often just days after quotes had been sent out . But there was a silver lining ; relationships between seed suppliers , distributors , and sports field managers were strengthened .
As planning begins for next spring , there are several factors to consider . The move toward elite varieties is continuing at a rapid pace at the farmer level . Inferior commodity varieties are being phased out as producers realize that seed companies are willing to pay a premium for clean , high-turf-quality seed . The days of calling around for the best price may also be coming to an end . As supplies remain tight , allocations within each organization are being made . Distributors and sports field managers are now being encouraged to establish solid relationships to ensure seed availability . This past season , if the order wasn ’ t placed when the call was made , the seed most likely wasn ’ t available the next day . Establishing strong distributor relationships with the seed suppliers was one of the best ways to ensure order fulfillment . Getting orders placed in the queue as soon as possible is key to ensuring you were able get what varieties you wanted , when you want them .
While we don ’ t see any of the issues ending soon , we can all work together to ensure success for sports field managers across the country . Communication and early planning are key .
Some other things you can do to help ensure a successful planting season next year are as follows :
1 ) Establish a good relationship with your distributor . 2 ) Order early . 3 ) Consider moving to improved varieties . 4 .) Talk to your seed suppliers in advance , as they will have more information that may help you plan for a successful spring .
We look forward to seeing you at the 2022 STMA Conference and Expo in January . Don ’ t be afraid to seek us out to discuss improved varieties .
– Jeremy Husen , executive director , A-LIST
Barenbrug
This last crop year seemed like the one where everything that could go wrong , did . Many folks in the seed industry are working on the assumption that this hole could take a year to climb out of , and acknowledge it can be hard to predict with prices as high as they are now . The current environment of crop costs and demand is conducive to a natural phenomenon in the grass seed industry , which is most often seen in ryegrass and tall fescue . Acres are easy to place , and supply can quickly swing and outweigh demand . A swing this large isn ’ t expected to occur in a year ’ s time , though , so field managers should still be on the lookout if they have crucial seed needs for the next year or two .
Depending on the end user – whether sports , golf , or lawn / landscape – a spectrum of managers set their thresholds on what cost they ’ re willing to invest . The overseed market experiences this the most , where some decide to have seed no matter the price or , rather , draw a line in the sand and pursue alternatives . Alternatives , in this case , almost always trickle down to other species or non-seed options entirely . With ryegrasses and tall fescue being the first dominoes to fall , bluegrass and even bentgrass are considered more during times such as these . The seeding rates of these species bring total cost well below ryegrass and fescue , but the end user
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