| SEED OUTLOOK FOR 2001
Several species of native grasses appear will be in short supply this coming year. Though it is too early to know for sure, as many grasses are just now being harvested or what has been harvested isn't yet cleaned. I recently visited with a number of seed producers from Texas to Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin to gain some insight into seed availability for this year. High temperatures and lack of rain throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and parts of Missouri have resulted in little hope for any quantity of native "wild" seed harvest. These "wild" seed harvests have been critical to overall supply of all species for the last several years during peak demand of CRP, however will not be available this year. Little bluestem supplies are particularly affected by the lack of "wild" harvest due to inadequate commercial seed production for current demand. Seed grown under irrigation in those same areas will be average at best. Even irrigated seed was subject to the extreme heat, many days above 105° F and humidity levels of 30% or less. This, while much of the big bluestem and indiangrass was blooming.
While the southern Great Plains dealt with drought and high temperatures, much of the upper Midwest dealt with too much moisture. Seed production of the major grasses, big bluestem, indiangrass, sideoats grama, little bluestem and switchgrass are reported to be average. Seed production in Nebraska and parts of Iowa is also reported to be average with the exception of buffalograss, which was below average.
Isolated areas in Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa, somehow lucked out and missed the heavy rains but received rains at just the right time and reportedly will have good harvests of the big 4, big bluestem, little bluestem, indiangrass and switchgrass. However, the production from these areas will have little effect on the overall supply of native grass seed nationwide.
Native little bluestem will be short this year due to lack of "wild" harvest, but there will be varieties available to meet demand, at least for the early part of the selling season. Sideoats grama will probably also be short, primarily due to one seed company controlling the majority of sideoats production and though their production was good, it is not enough to supply the industry. Also expect buffalograss to be short.
It looks as though big bluestem will be adequate to only slightly short this year. This, primarily due to some carry over seed from last year. Which brings up another topic of which to be aware. Be sure your seed has a current test. In most states the regulation, to be considered current, is nine months. If you are buying carry over seed with a test done in January or February of 2000, it might not be accurate, though, according to law, current. Preference should be given to seed tested since July or August.
Indiangrass will be available through the early part of the selling season but become less available as the season progresses. However, individual suppliers may experience early shortages of indiangrass.
Generally speaking, mixes of native grass seed will probably be fairly available, at least early in the selling season. Individual species will be hard to come by as most seed dealers will want to save what they have for CRP mixes.
Grass seed prices have recently taken a $2 per pound jump, which indicates to me, seed production is falling short of anticipation, regardless of what the seed companies are reporting publicly.
The best advice I can offer is, buy your seed as soon as you know what you need. Buying right now will most likely save you a few dollars a pound over waiting until next spring and will guarantee you will have your seed. At the very least book it for next spring delivery. Booking will not necessarily save you any money but it will, in all likelihood, insure that you will have seed to plant. The third option is to delay your project one more year, gambling on increased production and reduced prices next year.
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