Press Release - Oregon Grass Seed Forecast - Publication

OREGON GRASS SEED FORECAST
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
United States Department of Agriculture • Washington, DC 20250
Northwest Regional Field Office • Olympia, WA 98507

Posted online February 13, 2018

Regional Contacts
Phone: 1-800-435-5883
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Email: nassrfonwr@nass.usda.gov

Washington – Christopher Mertz, NW Regional Director
Idaho – Vince Matthews, State Statistician
Oregon – Dave Losh, State Statistician
Alaska – Sue Benz, State Statistician

OREGON GRASS SEED ACRES UP 4 PERCENT FROM 2017
Total acreage of Oregon grown Ryegrass and Tall Fescue increased to 332,000 acres for harvest in 2018, from
320,000 acres harvested in 2017. Growers of annual ryegrass seed indicated that acres available for harvest in
2018 will increase by 4 percent from 2017 to 123,000 acres. The number of acres of perennial ryegrass available
for harvest in 2018 is estimated to be 72,000 acres, down 6 percent from 2017. Acreage totals for 2017 were
revised from preliminary intentions based on 2018 survey data for all grass seed types.
Growers of Oregon tall fescue acreage indicated an increase in total acreage from 2017. The number of acres of
turf-type tall fescue is up 9 percent, while forage-type tall fescue is up 5 percent from last year. Acres of K-31 and
other types of tall fescue are also up from 2017 and are estimated at 12,000 acres.
Growers reported that overall yields were down for the 2017 crop due to a very wet spring, which made it hard to
control weeds and affected pollination. Grass seed growers indicated that new stands for 2018 had a slow start to
get established. This was due to wet fall conditions and colder winter conditions, which delayed new plantings.
Good crop conditions were reported coming into spring for both rye and fescue grasses. Pressure from slugs,
winter cut worms, geese, and mice were reported.
The 2018 survey resulted in responses from 75 percent of the selected sample. This report wouldn’t be possible
without the support and cooperation of the growers providing information and from the organizations that funded
the survey. Special thanks go to the Oregon Ryegrass Growers Seed Commission, Oregon Tall Fescue
Commission, and the Oregon Grass Seed Bargaining Association for support of the survey.

Type of Seed
Ryegrass Seed - Annual

Acres Harvested
in 2017

Acres Available for
Harvest in 2018

118,000

123,000

Ryegrass Seed - Perennial

77,000

72,000

Tall Fescue Seed - Turf Type

96,000

105,000

Tall Fescue Seed - Forage Type

19,000

20,000

Tall Fescue Seed - K-31 & Other

10,000

12,000