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| Preparing a seedbed in Oregon’s rich soil. |
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| Planting ryegrass with a charcoal banding seeder. |
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| Spraying herbicide to eliminate crop competition. |
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| Applying lime to field to correct soil pH. |
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| Field inspector checks field history. |
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| Ryegrass crop is inspected after seed heads are formed. |
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| Swathing fine fescue into windrows. |
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| Thrashing fine fescue with a combine. |
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| Bagging ryegrass in a cleaning facility. |
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| Germination check of ryegrass seed. |
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| Fluorescence test of perennial ryegrass shows two fluorescing seedlings. |
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| Printing Oregon Certified Seed blue tags at Oregon State University. |
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| County agent applies blue tags to certified lot. |
Oregon’s turf and forage grass seed production includes six cool season species. These are orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial and annual ryegrass, fine fescue, bluegrass and bentgrass. These crops are grown on nearly 160,000 hectares in Oregon’s six growing regions. To meet the quality standards for worldwide distribution, all crops must be planted on clean fields, free from dormant volunteer seed which will conflict with the variety or species planted.
To maintain genetic purity, Oregon certified varieties of like species may not be replanted on the same ground until all chance of prior crop regrowth is eliminated. Fields of the same species are separated by distance or isolation (buffer) strips to prevent varietal cross pollination.
All fields are numbered so that seed can be traced from planting through processing and shipment.
Ryegrass is planted in the fall. Other species are typically spring planted, with the crop not available for harvest until the following summer. Some fields are planted using the charcoal banding process. Environmentally safe herbicides are applied to control all competitive plant growth. The charcoal absorbs and deactivates the herbicide so the crop seedlings can grow through the band.
Careful records are kept of chemical applications, plus other materials and procedures used for each crop.
Fields are regularly inspected by growers and fieldmen. Additional inspection of certified crops is done twice each growing season for stand uniformity and presence of other crops and weeds. Seedling inspectors look for straight rows with uniform growth and no other seedlings present. Prior to windrowing, a moisture test indicates when seed is adequately dry for cutting and optimum storage.
Combining, or thrashing, is done a few days later. Careful timing is important to mechanically remove seed from the plant without first shattering, or clinging to the seed stalk too long and passing through the combine. Uniform crop maturity is important during this critical step.
After the seed is harvested, lots to be certified are cleaned at facilities inspected and approved by the Oregon Seed Certification staff. Cleaning and conditioning removes impurities and any undesireable seeds. Pure seed is then packaged and identified with a lot number indicating county, cleaning facility, grower and production year. To maintain high germination, seed is stored in approved warehouses. Each seed lot to be certified is sampled by Seed Certification personnel, and tested in the Oregon State University Seed Laboratory.
Certification is assurance that the variety name specified is grown to standards set forth by the plant breeder through Oregon State University. Although some seed lots, such as common, or public, varieties are not certified, they are still produced to high standards by exacting growers.
Some individual seed companies may set their own quality standards for mixtures and blends prepared for specific markets. In this instance, they may promote only the brand name, and might not indicate the individual varieties.
Oregon
Seed Council503-585-1157 / Fax 503-585-1292
1193 Royvonne Avenue South, Suite 11
Salem, Oregon 97302