With the phase-down of open field burning of crop residues in many states, the straw from the production of grass seeds could potentially be collected and used for bioenergy. Data on the straw from grass seed production are limited. In 2002, an estimated 565,009 acres were used to produce fescue seed, with Missouri (319,954 acres) and Oregon (188,101 acres) the largest producers. Alfalfa seed production occurred on 102,670 acres, with California (27,160 acres), Idaho (17,126 acres), and Washington (14,161 acres) being the major producers. Ryegrass seed was produced on an estimated 289,454 acres, nearly all in Oregon (280,222 acres) and Washington (1,395 acres) (USDA-NASS, 2002 Census). Data on national production of other grass seed varieties are not available.
According to the Oregon Seed Council, Oregon produces 60% of the world’s cool season grass seed and as many as 500,000 acres are used to produce grasses, mostly in the Willamette Valley. Some of the straw left over after seed harvest is fed to livestock and nearly 500,000 tons of straw are shipped to Japan, Taiwan, and Korea (farm-gate value of $50 million in 2000).
An estimated 134,640 dry tons of grass seed straw is potentially available in Washington. The analysis is based on the acres planted to bluegrass, alfalfa, and other seed crops for the years 2000-2003 and assumes a straw yield of 2.2 green tons/ac and an assumed moisture content of 20% (Washington State University, 2005).
An estimated 25,298 dry tons of straw could have potentially been available from alfalfa and Bermuda grass seed production in California in 2003. This quantity could potentially increase to 32,213 dry tons in 2017 (California Energy Commission, 2004).