MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Roughly 80% of Kentucky bluegrass seed is produced in Washington, so it’s logical for the turfgrass seed industry to work closely with the state’s leading scientists. Furthering that relationship, Washington State University recently named Michael Neff as the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission Professor, a position endowed by the industry.
“Dr. Neff has a passion for turfgrass, which can be seen in the results of his work,” said Travis Meacham, a seed grower, former chairman of the commission, and current chair of the industry-advocating Washington Turfgrass Seed Association. “It’s important to have our land-grant university support growers. The future looks brighter when we have someone on the academic side who can help us.”
Industry partnership is vital to Neff’s research.
“Their support allows my team to work on projects that aren’t ready for federal or other large grants,” said Neff, a professor in WSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. “We need preliminary data, and this endowment allows us to work on research that is high-risk and high-reward. If the projects work at a small scale, we can apply for additional support to keep advancing.”
Industry backing has led to the Grass Breeding and Ecology Farm on WSU’s Pullman campus, plus a new turfgrass farm at WSU’s Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon, Washington.
The goal in Mount Vernon is to develop varieties that grow well in western Washington, which has traditionally been a challenge due to climate.
“We’re collecting grasses from around the west side of the state that we think will grow well,” Neff said. “We’re screening them at the Mount Vernon farm to pick out the best varieties and traits. It’s still early, but we’re hopeful we can improve lawns around the area with grasses that don’t require as many inputs to grow well.”
Inputs for turfgrass include irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides.
For most of his career, Neff was primarily a molecular geneticist. Becoming WSU’s grass breeder about a decade ago, he has since enjoyed increased applied science opportunities while still relying on his extensive research background on how plants grow.
“Turfgrass has so many uses with wildly different requirements; it is endlessly fascinating,” he said. “You’re going from low-input areas like highway medians to high-maintenance areas like golf putting greens, often using the same species. The varieties must have unique qualities. When we’re breeding, we have to think about who will use each variety and what it will be used for.”
Orlin Reinbold, a member of the turfgrass seed industry for more than 40 years, helped Neff establish the research farm in Pullman and has worked closely with him for over a dozen years.
“This endowed position is great for Michael and his program,” said Reinbold, an entrepreneur who has donated to WSU’s turfgrass program for many years. “He’s put together a great team that is helping the university while also benefiting our industry. I’m excited to see what they do in the coming years.”
One of Neff’s biggest projects involves breeding for the impact of a changing climate. Kentucky bluegrass requires freezing temperatures for the plant to produce seed the following spring, a process called vernalization. Warming temperatures have limited the number of days below freezing, meaning reduced seed production.
Neff is working to breed varieties that undergo vernalization at higher temperatures.
“The industry tells us what challenges they’re facing, and we look at ways to address them,” Neff said. “We’re building a foundation of results and infrastructure to make sure we help the industry for years to come.”