Grass seed farming is important for Oregon’s environment in many ways. It keeps land in agricultural production that might otherwise be developed for other uses.

In many places, the soil is not suitable for other crops. If not for grass seed farming, the land could be developed for commercial purposes or subdivisions.

Having as much as a half-million acres planted in grass seed is also very important for clean water in Oregon. The filtering/metabolizing qualities of grass greatly reduce nitrates, for example, out of Oregon’s waterways. And grass is excellent at reducing erosion, keeping sediment out of waterways.

The nearly half-million acres planted in grass seed also mitigate global warming because of grass seed’s ability to capture and retain carbon.