Magnusson Research Farm

Grass seed field day in northern Minnesota

By Jillian Turbeville

Last year I had the privilege of traveling up to northern Minnesota, nearly ten miles south of the Canadian border, once every month between May and October. These road trips took me six hours from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus to the quaint town of Roseau. Best known for its snowmobile manufacturing and as a destination for hunting and fishing, Roseau stands out more uniquely to me for its agricultural aspects. As a graduate student, I am invested in learning about this unique ecoregion that provides ideal conditions for cool-season turfgrass seed production.


Save the date! Grass seed production meeting in Roseau

a turfgrass seed production cropping field after harvest; the word "grasses" is shown as text

Save the date for the annual Minnesota Turf Seed Council and University of Minnesota Grass Seed Meeting! This year's meeting will be Wednesday, February 26 from 8:30 a.m.


2024 grass seed and hybrid rye field tours

people standing in a field listening to a speaker discuss perennial ryegrass field production

The University of Minnesota will be holding grass seed and hybrid rye field tours at the Magnusson Research Farm in Roseau, MN on Thursday, June 27, 2024.


True armyworm moth trapping project in Roseau County

By Dave Grafstrom

In 2020, a widespread outbreak of true armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta), and the subsequent feeding, caused significant damage to perennial ryegrass seed fields in northwest Minnesota. Reported ryegrass seed yield losses ranged from 0 to over 80%. The most severe damage occurred over the July 4th weekend. The majority of the perennial ryegrass fields were sprayed once or twice for armyworms.