In Manitoba, a development project is in place with the objective of doubling the value of the forage and turf seed industry. Seed production systems will be developed for new crops such as altai wild rye, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and turf grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescues. The project has published a complete production manual for these crops for the industry. This will enable further development of a turf and amenity grass seed industry in Manitoba production beyond the year 2000. We have cooperative development projects in place across western Canada that are working together and can implement and deliver production technology gathered.
Projects are in operation in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
Cooperative efforts include herbicide development, variety testing and agronomics including fertility, stand renovation and establishment methods. Tall Fescue Seed production of tall fescue is growing in western Canada with increased usage in forage production. In conjunction with a seed crop, tall fescue straw can be harvested and fall regrowth can be grazed . Timothy Timothy has long been an important forage seed crop for Canada, and the Interlake region of Manitoba in particular. Manitoba has historically produced some 60,000 acres of timothy seed annually, but this has dropped to below 30,000 acres in recent years due to dramatically lowered seed prices.