Pennington Seed Becomes the Official Lawn Care Company of The New York Yankees

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The iconic team will utilize the portfolio of Pennington grass seed products to maintain the field at Yankee Stadium starting in the 2014 season.

MADISON, Ga., April 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — To mark the beginning of the 2014 baseball season and to kickoff the spring growing season, Pennington Seed, Inc., today announced it has finalized an agreement to become the official lawn care company of the New York Yankees. As part of the multi-year partnership, Pennington will develop and provide a portfolio of grass seed products to support the unique aesthetic, functional and maintenance needs of the iconic field at Yankee Stadium.

The New York Yankees sought Pennington to address the rigorous demands and continuous wear placed on their field. The Yankees grounds crew selected Pennington grass seed for its best-in-class aesthetic appeal and durability, as well as for its ease of maintenance. In addition, the partnership includes field days for professionals and local in-store promotions.

“We’re proud that the dedicated turf professionals of Yankee Stadium and the New York Yankees turned to Pennington to deliver the highest quality seed for their field,” said Jeff Crow, vice president of marketing at Central Garden & Pet Company, the parent company of Pennington Seed. “Whether being used to maintain the field at Yankee Stadium or to repair or establish your own yard, Pennington products are designed to establish thicker, fuller grass that can withstand the rigors of regular use, while using up to 30 percent less water versus ordinary seed.”

From 81 home games to concerts and other events, the multi-function field at Yankee Stadium is continuously used throughout the year.

“We are very excited to begin a relationship with Pennington. We hope that utilizing Pennington grass seed products at Yankee Stadium, along with the in-Stadium signage, expands its brand awareness,” said Michael J. Tusiani, New York Yankees Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales and Sponsorships.

Pennington offers a variety of grass seed mixes and blends to suit the needs of every homeowner. Pennington grass seed is available at home improvement stores and select independent retailers nationwide, including throughout the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. For additional information about Pennington Seed, please visit www.penningtonseed.com or go to www.facebook.com/PenningtonSeed .

About Pennington Seed

Founded in 1945 by Brooks Pennington, Sr., Pennington Seed, Inc. had humble beginnings as a small feed and seed store located in Madison, Ga., where the company is still headquartered today. Since the company’s founding, Pennington Seed has grown into one of the largest manufacturers, producers and distributors of lawn & garden and turf care products in the world, with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, observation nurseries and quality control labs located across the country.

Pennington Seed is owned by the Walnut Creek, Calif.-based Central Garden & Pet Company CENT +1.07% CENTA +0.83% , a leading innovator, marketer and producer of quality branded products for the lawn & garden and pet supply markets. To learn more about Pennington Seed, visit www.penningtonseed.com . For additional information on Central Garden & Pet Company, including access to the Company’s SEC filings, visitwww.central.com .

SOURCE Pennington Seed, Inc.

Copyright (C) 2014 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Click here for the original article at Market Watch.

Oregon grass, legume seed production bounced back in 2012-13

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The recession knocked down Oregon’s grass seed industry, but the 2012-13 harvest report shows it is recovering and finding economic balance.   

Oregon’s grass and legume seed industry continued its recovery in 2012-13, reaching a value of nearly $462 million, according to a report from Oregon State University.

The 13.6 percent increase in production value over the previous year came despite only a 2 percent increase in grass seed acreage, which accounts for 90 percent of the combined crop value. That indicates strong seed prices, said William C. Young III, professor emeritus at OSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Science.

The value increase is good news for growers, but still falls well short of the record $550 million recorded in the pre-recession years of 2007-08, Young said.

In addition, Oregon’s grass seed acreage last year, 415,916 acres, was 21 percent less than was harvested in the peak years of 2004-05.

“Perhaps, however, this two-year plateau of between 408,000 and 415,916 acres presents a better balance in supply and demand economics,” Young wrote in his annual report.

Legume seed crop acreage actually declined slightly from 2011-12, but the $44 million production value was a new record, Young reported.

Click here for the original article at Capital Press.

Pure Seed Hires New Director of Forage Development

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Pure Seed is happy to announce Sam Cable as the new Director of Forage Development.  Sam’s experience and knowledge will aid in the further development of Pure Seed’s forage program.

Pure Seed has been in the forage business for decades, and has been looking to grow and expand that sector of the business. We are excited to welcome Sam as the newest member of our team, and look forward to all the expertise he will bring.

Please feel free to contact Sam directly with any questions at sam@pureseed.com. A copy of the full press release is here.

NASS: Oregon Grass Seed Acreage Increases

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By Eric Mortenson
Capital Press–

In a contiinued modest recovery, Oregon grass seed plantings increase slightly from 2013.

A survey of Oregon grass seed growers shows they’ve planted more perennial and annual ryegrass than in 2013, according to the National Agriculture Statistics Service.

Tall fescue plantings for turf also are up slightly from last year, NASS reported. Forage and K-31 lawn type tall fescue plantings are the same as 2013.

Roger Beyer, executive director of the Oregon Seed Council, said the increased acreage available for harvest in 2014 is evidence of a continued modest recovery of the grass seed industry, which like nursery plant production is linked to development and fell hard when the housing market collapsed five years ago.

“I’m pleased it’s up, I’m also pleased it’s up only slightly,” Beyer said. “In the past we’ve had a habit of over-production.”

As things now stand, growers are looking at a “pretty positive market” and are cautiously optimistic, Beyer said.

Grass seed production of all types was Oregon’s sixth most valuable crop in 2012, worth $411 million.

Annual ryegrass plantings total 129,000 acres this year, up from 128,000 harvested in 2013. Perennial ryegrass plantings are at 112,000 acres, up from 99,000 last year. Tall fescue turf plantings are at 118,000 acres this year, compared to 110,000 in 2013. Forage fescue and K-31 and other fescue types remain stable at 15,000 acres and 13,000 acres, respectively.

Beyer said annual ryegrass plantings have held steady at about 120,000 acres a year, but in peak years growers planted 180,000 to 190,000 acres of perennial ryegrass.

Growers reported overall crop conditions to be “fairly good,” according to NASS, although some stands have browning due to freeze damage. Some growers reported having trouble establishing new plantings due to slugs, cutworms and voles.

Click here to read the original article from the Capital Press 

Ag bills move through Oregon Legislature

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By Mateusz Perkowski
Capital Press — 

Update on bills in the Oregon legislature.

Legislation that would give Oregon farmers a tax credit for crop donations has unanimously passed the state Senate.

It is one of a host of agriculture and natural resource bills making their way through the legislature.

The bill, SB 1541, would allow growers to claim a tax credit of 15 percent of the crop donation’s value until 2020, up from 10 percent under a previous statute that expired in 2011.

Supporters said the higher tax credit rate will entice more farmers to donate crops to food banks, gleaning cooperatives and other non-profit groups.

The bill would cause the State of Oregon to forego nearly $2.5 million in tax revenue while the credit is in place, according to the state’s Legislative Revenue Office.

After passing the Senate with 30 “aye” votes on Feb. 14, the bill is now being considered by the House.

It has been referred to the Revenue Committee, which was scheduled to hold a public hearing and work session on Feb. 19.

Pollinator health bill

A bill that would create a task force on pesticides and pollinator health has passed the House.

The legislation, HB 4139, initially proposed restrictions on neonicotinoid pesticides that have been blamed for pollinator die-offs, but that language was stripped from the bill.

The task force would consist of eight members appointed by Gov. John Kitzhaber from academia, agriculture and the environmental community.

It would issue a report on best practices for neonicotinoid use, pollinator health and related issues, with possible recommendations for legislation.

The bill passed the House 54-4 on Feb. 14 and is now being considered by the Senate, where it has been referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

A public hearing and possible work session on the bill was scheduled for Feb. 19.

Reforestation assistance

Legislation that would help forestland owners pay for replanting trees after wildfires has been approved by the Senate Committee on Rural Communities and Economic Development.

The cost assistance and tax credit programs would apply to catastrophic fires that occurred after August 2012.

The bill has now been referred to the Oregon legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means for further consideration of its financial impacts.
Well water regulation

Legislation that would affect the authority of Oregon water regulators to restrict the use of irrigation wells has failed to advance in the House and Senate.

The bills would have prohibited the Oregon Water Resources Department from shutting down an irrigation well unless it is individually proven to interfere with surface water.

The legislation was prompted by fears that the agency would shut down more than 100 wells in the Upper Klamath Basin this year due to drought.

However, the bills proved divisive in the agricultural industry.

They drew support from the Oregon Farm Bureau and Oregon Cattlemen’s Association but the Oregon Water Resources Congress and Oregon Association of Nurseries opposed them.

Proponents claimed the legislation would prevent water regulators from overstepping their authority and regulating wells based on regional models.

Opponents were concerned the bills would diminish the agency’s ability to enforce senior water rights.

Rep. Gail Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, supported the legislation and said many irrigators in the region could be economically devastated by water shut offs this year.

The legislation didn’t win favor with the Oregon Water Resources Department, which estimated the testing would have cost $80,000 per well, she said.

Two identical House bills dealing with the issue — HB 4044 and HB 4064 — received a public hearing but died in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

An identical Senate bill — SB 1572 — was referred to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee but never received a public hearing.

Click here to read the original article from the Capital Press 

Media Release — Food Safety Straight From the Experts

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Tacoma, Washington (February 18, 2014) – Meeting the demands of increased documentation and closer scrutiny by third-party auditors has changed the dynamics for food processing, warehousing and transportation managers across the Pacific Northwest.

To assist food industry professionals meet these requirements and maintain effective pest management programs, make plans to attend the Sprague Pest Solutions Food Safety Pest Management Conference.

The event includes an impressive lineup of expert speakers that are ready to share the latest information on how to improve pest management program efficiencies and efficacy, and stay compliant with third-party audits.

Featured Sessions and Speakers

 Assessing Rodent Risk in Food Processing
Robert Corrigan, Ph.D., Owner and President, RMC Pest Management Consulting
 IPM Inspections for Hot Spots in Food Plants
Stephen Kells, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor & Entomologist, University of Minnesota
 Outside Influences on Food Plant Pest Management – FSMA, GFSI and Regulations Richard H. Dougherty, Ph.D., Professor and Food Science Specialist, Washington State University
 Trends in Third Party Audit Compliance
Jeff Kronenberg, Food Processing Specialist, University of Idaho, School of Food Science, TechHelp Idaho
 Extreme IPM and the Timeline of Change in Pest Management
Jeffrey A. Weier, BCE, Technical Director, Sprague Pest Solutions
 Birds: Preventing Failures in Food Safety
Keith Rowney, Special Services Manager, Sprague Pest Solutions

The cost to attend the conference is $295 per person. Early bird registration is $245 per person through February 25. Group discounts available for groups of three or more. CEU credits will be available. Attendees can register at http://www.spraguepest.com/foodsafety

Sprague Pest Solutions (www.spraguepest.com), founded in 1926, delivers innovative pest solutions to commercial and residential pest management customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Colorado. Sprague is a Copesan Services partner.

# #

Media Contact:
Carrie Thibodeaux / Sprague Pest Solutions
253/405-2590 / carriet@spraguepest.com

Panel OKs $125,000 for state’s GMO task force

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A key legislative committee has approved $125,000 in funding for a task force to advise lawmakers on issues related to genetically modified organisms.

Funding for a task force that will advise the Oregon legislature on biotech crops has been approved by a key legislative committee.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture’s request for $125,000 was recently backed by a subcommittee of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

The subcommittee’s Feb. 13 recommendation means the funding will be included in a broader budget bill during the 2014 legislative session.

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber vowed to form the task force last year, when the legislature passed a bill that pre-empted the regulation of biotech crops by local governments.

The task force will issue a report on consumer choice and coexistence among producers of genetically engineered, organic and conventional crops.

The 14-member committee will be headed by Dan Arp, Oregon State University’s dean of agricultural sciences, and Jennifer Allen, director of Portland State University’s Institute for Sustainable Solutions.

Other members of the task force, who will represent a wide array of consumer and agricultural interests, will be announced later in February, said Richard Whitman, the governor’s natural resources adviser.

Rather than issue recommendations, the task force’s report will be intended to inform the legislature’s policy decisions during the 2015 session, said Whitman.

“The likelihood of reaching a consensus recommendation on any of these issues is not very good,” he said during a recent hearing.

The goal will be to provide a neutral forum to flesh out GMO issues, Whitman said.

Its findings won’t have any bearing on possible ballot initiatives that call for mandatory labeling of genetically modified organisms in food, he said.

Sen. Chris Edwards, D-Eugene, said that is difficult to find agreement on such a contentious issue, but the task force report will be “worth it” if it brings credibility to the debate.

The $125,000 would be appropriated to ODA but used by PSU’s Oregon Consensus Program to facilitate the task force, which is expected to hold seven to 10 meetings this year.

Click here for the original article published in the Capital Press.

Local Cover Crop Forum to Explore Opportunities to Build Soil Health

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Pendleton, Oregon (1/30/2014) – Farmers, ranchers, researchers, agricultural business operators and conservationists are invited to participate in a forum on cover crops and soil health, hosted by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service from 9:30-12:00, on February 18th at the Umatilla County Extension Conference Room in Umatilla Hall at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Oregon.

This local session is one of more than 225 forums taking place throughout the country in concert with the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health in Omaha, Nebraska, sponsored by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

In addition to providing a venue to discuss local cover crop and soil health opportunities, benefits and barriers, the forum in Pendleton will feature live-streaming video of the national conference opening session featuring presentations by Howard G. Buffett of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, NRCS Chief Jason Weller, Ray Gaesser, Iowa Farmer and President of the American Soybean Association, and a panel of four leading cover crop and soil health farmers.

NRCS State Conservationist Ron Alvarado said the local-level forums will provide NRCS and its conservation partners and stakeholders a platform to more fully organize and enable state and local soil health efforts at the grassroots level.

“The local forums will provide an excellent opportunity for participants to discuss how to build soil health, improve yields, curb erosion, manage pests and build resilience in farming systems here in Oregon—and to assess opportunities for, or barriers to, the broader adoption of soil health management systems,” Alvarado said.

Local forum participants will also have the opportunity to provide ideas and recommendations to the leaders, researchers, innovators and policy makers attending the national conference.

To participate in the local forum, contact the Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District office in Pendleton at (541) 276-8131 by Wednesday, February 12, 2014 to ensure adequate seating and to get additional details about the event.

Click here to download the flier for the forum.

Oregon agriculture leaders to be honored

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Oregon’s agriculture leaders and innovators will be honored at the Agricultural Progress Awards dinner March 12.

The event, hosted by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, celebrates progress in agriculture made through partnerships among business, higher education and state government.

ODA Director Katy Coba will present the following awards:

Oregon Product Retailer of the Year:  Wilco, headquartered in Mt. Angel and the largest farm supply cooperative in the Pacific Northwest, for its service and support of Oregon agriculture.

Excellence in Marketing:  The Oregon Potato Commission, for its innovation and promotion of potatoes in local, domestic, and international markets.

Cooperator of the Year:  The Clackamas and Wasco counties Soil and Water Conservation Districts, for commitment to conservation and working with the Oregon Department of Agriculture to support its Agricultural Water Quality Program.

Excellence in Education:  The Summer Ag Institute, for its education of Oregon K-12 teachers about agriculture and its application in the classroom.

Individual Contributions to Agriculture: John McCulley of Salem, for his many years of leadership, promotion, and marketing efforts as administrator of several Oregon agricultural commodity commissions, associations, and organizations; Jim Krahn of Vernonia for his years of service to Oregon’s dairy industry as executive director of the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association; and Carol Mallory-Smith of Albany, for her work and research as a weed scientist with Oregon State University’s Crop and Soil Science Department.

The Agricultural Progress Awards Dinner will begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Spinning Room of the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill, 1313 Mill Street SE in Salem, preceded by a no-host social hour and reception at 5:30 p.m.

For more information or to register for the event, please contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture at (503) 986-4550 or visit http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/Pages/ap2014.aspx

Click here for the original article from the Statesman Journal.

John Patton joins Landmark Turf and Native Seed

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Golf Course Industry  
January 29, 2014 —

Spokane, WA — Landmark Turf and Native Seed, a leading producer and supplier of high quality, value-added seeds for turf, reclamation, forage & cover crop use, announces the hire of John Patton as vice president of international sales.

Patton’s experience in the seed sales and distribution industry began while working on his family’s sod farm in Maryland. He then established his own landscaping business before beginning his seed career. Patton’s work experience in the industry includes Lofts Seed, Sunbelt Seeds, GreenTech, Seed Research of Oregon and, most recently, DLF Pickseed USA, where he was the vice president of international sales. Patton graduated from Virginia Tech in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy.

“The experience John is bringing to Landmark will be invaluable for the business,” says John Brader, co-owner at Landmark Turf and Native Seed. “His relationships and knowledge of the seed industry will help to propel us into new markets. He’s going to make a great addition.”

For more information on Landmark Turf and Native Seed, visit turfandnativeseed.com.

To read the original story in Golf Course Industry, click here.