Ergot warning issued in Eastern Oregon

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The Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center is warning grass seed growers to be alert for ergot.

The alert notes that ergot spore production is coinciding with flowering in perennial ryegrass in the Columbia Basin.

Spores typically are produced ahead of flowering.

“When they coincide, then we have big ergot years,” said Phil Hamm, director of the center and a plant pathologist.

“Chemical protection of flowers during anthesis will be important this year,” the alert states.

Ergot spores replace seeds in infected ryegrass and bluegrass plants, create a honeydew that attracts insects, adds to cleaning costs and can increase disease pressure in subsequent years.

Growers can obtain partial control through use of fungicides, Hamm said.

Hamm said the station is researching additional management techniques, including a method to delay spore production in ergot until after ryegrass fields flower.

Published 5/21/13 by Capital Press.

Summer Convention Early Bird Sign Up Ends May 24th

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We are just six weeks away from the OSA Summer Convention at Salishan, and we hope you can all attend. If you have not already registered, we encourage you to do so now. Early bird pricing ends May 24. Sign up now to avoid paying an additional 10% for registration fees. Convention registration forms and online registration are located at http://oregonseed2.pacwestweb.com/events/summer-convention/.

ROOMS
You will also want to call soon to reserve a room with Salishan. The block of rooms will be held only through May 26, and after that the unclaimed rooms will be released for general sale. Salishan will still honor the contracted rate for guests reserving a room after this date, but only if available. Call 1-800-452-2300, and make sure to mention Oregon Seed Association.

SPONSORS
If you are interested in contributing as a convention sponsor, or hosting an exhibit table, please contact us soon. Exhibit tables are filling up quickly and sponsors get priority.

GOLF
We still have some tee times available for golf on Saturday morning after the convention. Please contact John Cochran (john@turfmerchants.com) or Angie Blacker (blacker@pacwestcom.com) to sign up. Tee times start at 8:10 am, and the cost is $89 per person, which includes the cart. Please pay Salishan directly.

Please feel free to contact OSA at 503-685-7555 or blacker@pacwestcom.com if you have any questions. We’ll see all of you in June!

 

Sprague Pest Solutions Expands Its Portland Service Center

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TACOMA, Wash., April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — To meet the needs and demands of a growing market Sprague Pest Solutions has expanded and moved its Portland, Oregon service center.

The new service center features a 40-seat training center, 4,500 sq. ft. warehouse, 1,280 cubic ft. heat treatment and fumigation chamber, and a secured lot for onsite fumigation of equipment and trailers up to 53 ft. in length.

“The additional space allows us to expand our heating and fumigation service capabilities and provide a valuable service to our clients, especially those involved in food processing, distribution and agriculture,” says Brian Kalbfleisch, Sprague district manager for Oregon and Southwest Washington. “We can service small lot shipments, bins and equipment used in food processing, farm equipment as well as furniture that is infested with bed bugs.”

To read more, visit the Wall Street Journal.

Fire destroys Canby grass seed company building

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A Canby-based grass seed company’s building was destroyed in a fire Thursday morning that required about 40 firefighters from several different agencies to put it out.

The two-alarm fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. at the Rose Agri-Seed building located at 29975 S Barlow Road, said Todd Gary, deputy fire marshal at the Canby Fire Department. Gary, also the lead investigator on the blaze, said it started after a machine that dries grass seeds caught fire. No one was injured.

Several factors complicated firefighters’ efforts to put the fire out, Gary said. Visibility was low from heavy smoke and the 2400-square-foot building had no windows. Four propane tanks inside the building also caught fire, and the building’s roof collapsed shortly after crews arrived.

To read more, visit The Oregonian

Budget softens cuts to services

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SALEM — Democrat and Republican budgets released March 4 include 10 percent increases in natural resource agency funding, marking the first time in more than a decade they could receive boosts in general funds.

The Democrats’ budget also includes $5.7 million more for Oregon State University’s statewide public services than what Gov. John Kitzhaber recommended in his budget.
The Republican budget did not address the statewide services.

To read more, visit Capital Press.

Barenbrug Turf Star

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Barenbrug Turf Star, The Trusted Choice for Rose Bowl Stadium: For the past 20 years, Pasadena’s historical Rose Bowl Stadium has chosen Barenbrug’s Turf Star Perennial Ryegrass for their over-seeding needs. This ‘on the field’ relationship has involved many a great Rose Bowl game, including the Oregon Ducks 2012 win over Wisconsin. Featuring three top-performing Oregon perennial ryegrasses, Turf Star is a proven performer when the game’s on the line, but still provides the needed uniform spring transition back to the Rose Bowl’s bermudagrass base as temperatures warm. Barenbrug USA and the Rose Bowl… a twenty year tradition of partnership and performance.

Seed Research of Oregon KATU

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Corvallis firm supplies grass for World Cup

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Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa

A Corvallis company supplied the bulk of the grass seed for the FIFA World Cup soccer fields — known as pitches to soccer fans — in South Africa this summer.

Seed Research of Oregon, through its South African distributor Agricol, provided seed for 75 game and practice pitches in new stadiums, as well as for a number of renovated ones.

“It will be the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, so it’s a huge deal for us,” said Bill Dunn, executive vice president. “We’re proud to be the supplier.”

To read more, visit The Oregonian.