Behind the bag: The story of seed production

Have you ever stopped to wonder where the seed in your Johnsons or MM bags comes from? You might be surprised to learn that some of it is grown here in the UK.

After sheep grazing.

In central Norfolk, near the market town of Dereham you will find N.E. Salmon Ltd, responsible for growing seed varieties to meet the demands of turf managers at all levels of the game. They take us through the challenges and exactly what’s involved with delivering seed fit for the top echelons of amenity sport.

Founded in 1955 by Norman Salmon, Hyde Hall began as an arable farm with a firm focus on soil health.

Today, under the stewardship of Robert Salmon and his son Edmund, the farm has evolved into a specialist producer of high-quality amenity grass seed – with a particular focus on Ryegrass and Red Fescue. Cultivars like Nigella, Chardin, Absolom, Chloe and Singapore are just a few of the varieties grown with both care and precision.

Continuously delivering seed at the quality level demanded by elite facilities is a challenge relished by the Salmons, even in the face of chemical restrictions, seed yields and, of course, climate change. The farm operates on a 1 in 7 crop rotation programme which helps to maintain soil structure and can be useful in managing weed control. Generally, amenity seed is bred for fineness of leaf, wear tolerance and a whole host of other traits which are not necessarily conducive for high seed yield. And, when it comes to climate change, good husbandry is key.

Amenity seed crops are a high-risk investment. If they fail to meet the high-quality standards, there are fewer fallback uses, unlike arable crops which can be diverted to feed or energy production. This is the main driver for precision in all aspects of production.

At Hyde Hall, drilling is nearly always done in March which would see the first yield of Creeping Red Fescue fifteen months later. During the term of the crop, regular inspections are made by DEFRA and NIAB to ensure compliance and certification for sale. The cleaner the seed is, the better dividend Robert can achieve which is another good reason to go the extra mile for purity!

One part of this strategy is the innovative utilisation of dual-crop drilling. Using Trimble GPS, amenity grass is sown alongside another crop, such as Spring Barley – with the Barley drilled at circa 70% of the normal rate. This method creates a buffer zone for better weed control, provides coordinates for more accurate spraying and spot treatments and, logistically, allows the Barley to be harvested first giving the grass the time it needs to mature. A 50-metre buffer zone is enforced around the seed crop to prevent cross pollination.

Harvesting of grass seed.

Different varieties need different regimes to ensure the yield is a favourable one. Red fescue is harvested at 18-20% moisture, with waste cleared to allow regrowth. Ryegrass is swathed at 40% moisture and allowed to field dry to 18% before being picked up with the combine – with waste sold as livestock feed. Post-harvest mowing is conducted 2-3 times over the autumn until seed head tillers emerge – usually October for Fescues and Rye later in March – after which mowing stops until the next harvest. The harvested seed is barn dried on-site to 13.5% moisture, then cleaned and sent to DLF HQ for mixing and packing into Johnsons Sports Seed, MM and other branded bags.

Unlike arable crops, amenity seed can be left in situ after harvest to produce another crop the following year. Looking at Ryegrass, for example, this may be grazed by sheep or topped if staying down for a second year. After two harvests, fields are returned to rotation to combat weed ingress and a decline in plant vigour.

Producing good quality, clean seed is not an easy task. It requires careful planning, sustainable practices, cutting edge technology and dedication beyond growing other mainstay crops. Over the years, DLF have established a small network of dedicated growers throughout the country just like N.E. Salmon Ltd that produce seed to satisfy even the most discerning of customers.