Continuing the thought thread begun in Bio-Bubble, about competition between various groups seeking to exploit biomass for their pet objectives. Each advocacy group thinks only of their agenda. So, though they may have a basically useful objective the policies that they prescribe can have a net negative effect.

Recently, a char advocate proclaimed that one way to get the biomass that she wanted was to take over the Willamette Valley in Oregon and grow hemp rather than grass seed, and then use the hemp (low THC) as biochar feedstock. This was justified in her mind due to post harvest burning of straw in fields, and a sneering disrespect for people who grow grass in any case.

The Willamette Valley is the world's major producer of cool season grass seeds. No one decided to make it so, it developed over the last half century since it is a very good place to grow grass seeds, and not a good place to grow other crops. It started small as one of a variety of agricultural enterprises and gradually came to dominate because it worked so well. A pool of expertise, support industries, special equipment and machine manufacturers have developed apace. There's no place like it.

In-field burning of crop residue straw began in the mid 1940s for disease control (ergot, blind seed, and seed gall nematode). For decades it kept these problems at low levels. Only about 10% of the crop residues are still burned due to air management restrictions. The use of pesticides and herbicides has increased greatly to keep control of pests. But there's a bright side since there's a market for grass seed straw for use as animal fodder. In 2003 a billion pounds of it were exported to Pacific Rim countries.

It isn't only turf grass seed that is grown there, it is also forage grass seed. The seed that I plant in my pastures, though it is from a Dutch company and was developed for the New Zealand Market, is grown under license in the Willamette Valley.

An increased number of large and small seed companies in both the areas of production and use, all wanting their own cultivars, has lead to a proliferation of new ones. As market forces in the U.S. determine whether a new cultivar is needed and will be produced, it is not uncommon for cultivars to be developed for regional markets.

An excellent distribution system is responsible for providing the needed quantity and quality of seed required by consumers. More than 20 seed production and wholesale companies are members of the Oregon Seed Trade Association. The U.S. marketing system includes brokers and wholesalers with contacts in many parts of the country. In some cases, one organization is involved in breeding of a new cultivar, controlling the production, and managing the marketing to the consumer. Grass seed production and marketing is international. Many European companies work with or own American companies in Oregon to help with seed production of their turf and forage cultivars.

IMV the growth of the pastured livestock industry is as important as the advent of biochar for environmental health. The improved grasses and forbs being developed for grazing are an important part of that, and the Willamette Valley is a major player in that effort. The Dutch and the Kiwis have paid more attention to this in the past than the Yanks, but that is changing as doubts about the wisdom of grain based forage systems increase. Grass is better in many ways.

Curiously, there's a charcoal connection too.

Some perennial species require a cold period for floral induction before flowering and seed set. These crops must be planted in the spring or late summer to allow adequate plant and tiller development before the onset of the cold season. The crop is seeded in rows and specialized techniques are employed. One of these is carbon band seeding, in which a slurry of activated charcoal is sprayed over the drill row during seeding. Next, the herbicide diuron is sprayed over the field to control weeds prior to their germination. The charcoal over the drill row adsorbs the herbicide and allows the crop to emerge unharmed.

I wonder what the cumulative effect of using charcoal in the fields year after year has been? I wonder if the idea that char from burning in the past, and banding in the present, has contributed to the quality of what are now anthrosols, has been investigated?