Seed Movement & Our Newest Cover Crop Radish

If you are in the northern half of the US or in Canada, you are well aware that this is one of those years where the past few months has not been conducive to good seed movement. Too cool and too wet, for most. Soil temperatures are cooler than normal as well. For some, the spring window is fast closing, while others still have a good full month or more.

The good news for contractors, lawn care operators and local seed dealers, is that their regional distributors should be able to fulfill any immediate needs, as well as supply reorders without delay. Undoubtedly, some distributors will carry seed into late summer. This will likely ease some of the pressure of summer shipment of new crop seed, particularly turf, and select forage legumes. With anticipated costly freight, a bit of inventory may be a blessing in disguise.

That said, there are still plenty of species which are in tight supply and will not be replenished before mid-fall. Here is a partial list of species that seem likely to remain tight through September: Chewings fescue, creeping red fescue, hard fescue, sheeps fescue, turf perennial ryegrass, timothy, Dutch white clover, ladino clover, white clover, birdsfoot trefoil, yellow blossom sweet clover, Austrian winter pea, radish, balansa, mammoth red clover, and medium red clover.

Additionally, if there are specific varieties you need in your program, it is not too early to let your needs be known - best to not assume that you can wait till harvest for any variety key to having in your early fall program.