On this week’s EarthWorks Podcast, Joel Simmons sits down with Marissa McDowell, a third-generation seed producer whose family played an important role in the growth of Pickseed, one of the most recognized names in turfgrass seed production. Based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the center of grass seed production in the United States, Marissa grew up immersed in the seed business before eventually joining the family industry herself.
During the conversation, Marissa walks Joel through the entire turfgrass seed production process, from securing farmland and growing seed crops to harvesting, cleaning, packaging, and bringing premium turfgrass varieties to market. She shares insight into the complexity behind producing high-quality bentgrasses, bluegrasses, fescues, and ryegrasses through Vista Seed Partners.
Joel and Marissa also discuss the economics of the seed industry and what impacts grass seed pricing from year to year. One major concern highlighted in the discussion is the continued loss of grass seed acreage in Oregon to commodity crops like hazelnuts, which require large amounts of land and can permanently remove valuable turf seed production acreage for decades.
If you’ve ever wondered where your grass seed comes from or how much work goes into producing the seed used on golf courses, sports fields, and home lawns, this episode provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the turfgrass seed industry.
