The Increasing Demand for Turf Seed

Looking for high-quality turf seed? This year, it may be a little hard to come by.

The recent shortage of turf seed in the golf industry is forcing many superintendents to make difficult purchasing decisions. Although we’re certainly in a better spot than 2013, some specific varieties will be hard to find. For example, high-quality perennial ryegrasses as well as high-quality fine fescues with hard and chewings fescue will be in short supply.

While there will always be seed available to support the industry, we’re facing a shortage of high-quality seed along with high-quality varieties. Due to high demand, buyers are taking the high-purity and certified seed first, leaving uncertified and other substitutions for the next buyer. For example, some superintendents are turning to European turf seed, particularly perennial ryegrass, but that tends to be lighter in genetic color and contains different disease traits, raising new challenges. This leads to a few questions, such as what will you choose and when.
 
What does this mean for the long-term?
Looking ahead, we certainly have the number of acres available to produce turf—but not all seeds are created equal. Though inventories may be low, take advantage of the high-quality seed and buy the certified varieties when available.
 
What does this mean for the short-term?
Now more than ever, it’s important to strategically select the right turf seed for your course. If you can get your hands on a high-quality variety, it’s critical to place that seed in the right spot so it can reach its genetic potential. Fortunately, tools like the WinField™ TurfTech Tool quickly match the optimum turf seed to specific environmental and playing conditions. To learn more, visit TurfTech and download this TurfTech informational brochure.