Over the past 20 years, approximately 175 Saskatchewan seed growers have produced pedigreed and common forage and turf seed for domestic and export markets.

Crops well suited to northern Prairie growing conditions include red, alsike and sweet clovers; timothy; several wheatgrass and fescue species; and native grass varieties and ecovars.

Forage Seed Resources

We hope you find our collection of resources useful.

Production

Insect Identification and Management

• NEW European skipper  (Thymelicus lineola) - a common pest in timothy by Peace Region Forage Seed Association (PDF)

• NEW Common Insect Predators and Parasitoids in Manitoba by Manitoba Agriculture (PDF)

• NEW Beneficial Insects and Parasitoids factsheet by Manitoba Agriculture (PDF)

• True armyworms (Mythimnaunipuncta) factsheet by Manitoba Agriculture (PDF)

• Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairie & Insects Commonly Mistaken for Cutworms (PDF)

• Field Crop and Forage Pests and their Natural Enemies in Western Canada (PDF)

• UPDATED March 2023: Pests of Clover Grown for Seed, a Pacific Northwest Extension Publication (searchable by insect)

• UPDATED March 2023: Grass Seed Pests, a Pacific Northwest Extension Publication (searchable by insect)

Canadian Pedigreed Seed Production Standards for Forage and Turf Grasses and Forage Legumes

• Notice Changes to Circular 6 (Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production ©)

• Isolation Requirements and Maximum Impurity Standards for Other Crop Kinds in Forage and Turf Grasses and Forage Legumes (PDF)

• NEW February 01, 2024: Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production ©, see sections 6 & 7 regarding forage and turf grasses and forage legumes

• Seed Inspectors List

Production Presentations

• Forage Seed Research in Peace River Region of Alberta January 2019 (PDF)

• Perennial Ryegrass Production in Minnesota (PDF)

Seed Production and Crop Management

• Peace Region Forage Seed Association Research Reports: Forage Seed Variety Trials, Crop Establishment, Fertility, Weed Control, Growth Regulators, Insects and Disease, Harvest and Post Harvest Management, Crop Rotations (website)

• Manitoba Forage Seed Association Research Reports: Fertility, Growth Regulators, Fungicides and Diseases, Growing Degree Days-based management approach (website)

• Oregon State University Research Reports (website)

Organic Forage Seed Production

• We are working on production resources for organic growers. If you are an organic grower we would love your input. Please contact the SFSDC office and talk to us!

Production Guides

• Producing Certified Seed of Bromegrass in Western Canada (PDF)

• Altai Wild Rye (PDF)

• AC Saltlander Green Wheatgrass (PDF)

• Birdsfoot Trefoil (PDF)

  Cicer Milkvetch for Western Canada (PDF)

• Crested Wheatgrass (PDF)

  Dahurian Wild Rye (PDF)

  Intermediate Wheatgrass (PDF)

  Kentucky Bluegrass (PDF)

• Meadow Bromegrass (PDF)

• Northern Wheatgrass (PDF)Reed Canarygrass – A Production Guide (PDF)

• Perennial Ryegrass (PDF)Sainfoin (PDF)

• Sainfoin: Seeding and Establishment (PDF)

• Sainfoin: Profitable Grazing Management (PDF)

• Sainfoin: Innovation to Maximizing Animal Performance (PDF)

• Sainfoin: Sustainable Life Cycle Productivity (PDF)

  Slender Wheatgrass (PDF)

• Smooth Bromegrass (PDF)

  Sweet Clover Production in Western Canada (PDF)

• Tall Fescue (PDF)

• Timothy (PDF)

  Red Clover (PDF)

  Russian Wild Rye (PDF)

• Western Wheatgrass (PDF)

Other Production Information:

• Saskatchewan Agriculture's Crop Information (website)

  SFSDC Board Orders, on the Legislation, Policies and Procedures page in this website

• SFSDC Annual Reports on the Annual Reports and Audited Financial Statements page in this website

  Economics Budgets by Government of Manitoba

• Guidelines For Estimating Forage Seed Production Costs 2016 (PDF)

  Other Sources

• Forage Seed - BMPs for Invasive Plant Species (PDF)

• Grazing - BMPs for Invasive Plant Species (PDF)

• Riparian - BMPs for Invasive Plant Species (PDF)

• Hazards and Safeguards in Applying Insecticides to Crops in Bloom (PDF)

Marketing Resources

• Forage Seed Marketing Guide (website)

• Forage Seed Market and Pricing Information (website)

• Forage Seed Market Review January 2019 (PDF)

• Forage Seed Market Review January 2018 (PDF)

Links

All website links will open in a new window or tab.

• AG Canada

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

• Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

• Beef Cattle Research Council

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency

• Canadian Seed Growers' Association

• Manitoba Agriculture

• Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association

• Manitoba Forage Seed Association

• National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance

• Peace Region Forage Seed Association

• Weekly pest blog and host of the new Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN)

• Saskatchewan Agri-Food Council

• Sask Forage Council

• Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

• Seed Inspectors List