March 10, 2017
CapitalPress.com
11
Seeding pastures
for profit and
pollinators
By JAN JACKSON
For the Capital Press
ROSEBURG, Ore. —
Woody Lane is quick to point
out that to make a profit and
stay in the farming business,
pasture management is key.
Speaking as president
of the Oregon Forage and
Grassland Council, Lane,
who holds a doctorate and
a master’s degree in animal
nutrition from Cornell Uni-
versity, is pas-
sionate about
the subject.
“When
I
came to Rose-
burg in 1990, we
weren’t thinking
about over seed-
ing with things
like improved Woody Lane
grasses, new
clovers, chicory, plantain
and hybrid varieties of rape,
kale and radish. We certainly
were not thinking about seed-
ing pastures for pollinators,”
Lane said. “One of the great
things about the OFGC is that
it is well represented by seed
industry members who help
sponsor excellent workshops
and field tours.”
OFGC was founded sev-
en years ago to promote the
usage of improved forages
and increase the productivity
and profitability of Oregon’s
grasslands.
It also keeps its members
abreast of the latest devel-
opments in all segments of
forage and grassland agricul-
ture, which includes seeding
for pollinators, Lane said.
The Pastures for Pollina-
tor program was a demon-
stration started in conjunction
with Sujaya Rao of Oregon
State University. Because
more than 33 percent of the
food supply comes from in-
sect-pollinated crops, seed
companies and individuals
came together with donations
of seed or money to help ad-
vance the program.
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