It’s going to be another tight year for perennial ryegrass! Market conditions have pushed grass seed prices for perennial ryegrass and many tall turf-type fescues to near-record levels. 

In a recent Capital Press article, Bryant Muntz, Oregon Seed Association President, and Mark Simmons, Executive Director of the Oregon Grass Seed Bargaining Association, cited 3 reasons why many grass seed prices are at their highest prices since 2007.

Reason #1: Less carryover than previous years. Perennial ryegrass had about a 40 million pound carryover from 2012. Much less than the estimated 100 million pound carryover experienced during the recent recession. Warehouses are currently working around the clock to keep up with demand.

Reason #2: Crop yields are down due to the dry weather conditions in Fall 2012 and May 2013.

Reason #3: Many growers have transitioned to higher revenue crops. When the economy took a downturn in 2008, there was an overstock of grass seed and many Oregon growers turned to wheat and other crops.

Choosing Cost-Effective Grass Seed

As seed costs rise, you may be faced with difficult choices. Do you bite the bullet and purchase the more expensive seed that you know will deliver the results you expect? Or do you opt for cheaper seed and risk higher maintenance costs?

It's not an easy choice, especially when you're working with a tight budget. But you're more likely to make the right decision by evaluating the current issues and needs of your turf and the characteristics of the seed you're planning on purchasing.

There can be added costs for using cheap seed. Many times, cheap seed is an older cultivar. And while it may be attractive to lower your bag cost, older cultivars tend to have the following issues:

• Less resistant to disease

• Need more fungicide

• Need more watering

• Poor turf quality

• Reduced density

In contrast, cultivars that have a higher seed cost generally exhibit superior drought resistance, wear tolerance and sod strength.

Another key factor to consider is the type of water you're using. If you're using effluent water to irrigate your turf, salt tolerance is a characteristic that will become more and more important over time. You'll need to choose a seed that can consistently yield superior germination at high salt levels. Otherwise, the density of your turf will suffer and reseeding may be required.

In the end, an investment in quality seed can directly translate to lower maintenance costs. Both in terms of additional product required and labor. So as you're purchasing your seed, be sure to ask not only about price, but also about the quality of the seed.

If you have concerns about what type of seed is best for your property, be sure to contact your local Horizon store. We choose our seed partners not just on price, but also based on who will provide answers, research, and support to ensure that what you put down delivers.