International crop seed producer DLF has acquired the assets of OreGro Seeds, an Albany, Ore.-based forage, cover crop and turfgrass breeding company whose proprietary cool-season products will help diversify its new owner’s offerings.

The acquisition includes three warehouse facilities totaling 75,000 square feet, equipped with blending and packaging capabilities, as well as OreGro’s research program, according to DLF. The purchase price was not disclosed.

The sale gives DLF a greater presence in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the world’s top producer of cool-season forage and turfgrass seed and home to grass seed producer DLF Pickseed USA.

“This acquisition strengthens our forage and cover crop presence on the West Coast” as well as across the country, DLF North America marketing director Ben Addington told Farm Progress in an email. “It also gives us access to a wider range of products, allowing us to offer more seeded solutions to West Coast growers as well as consumers at the retail level.”

Ore-Gro’s cool-season forage grass, forage legume, turfgrass, cover crop, and small grain varieties will not be sold exclusively through DLF and its distribution partners in the U.S. and elsewhere, according to the company. Twenty of OreGro’s employees were hired by DLF.

Adds capacity, staff

“This investment not only complements our expansive global research and product portfolio, but also adds significant operational capacity and staff to support customers,” said Claus Ikjaer, DLF Pickseed USA’s chief executive officer. “This is a strategic development to bolster our seed innovation, service, and support.”

The 116-year-old DLF, a major global player in turfgrass and forage crop seed production, is owned by 3,000 Danish seed growers and has subsidiaries or sales offices in 22 countries. Roughly 11% of DLF’s more than 2,000 global employees are involved in research.

Founded in 1999, OreGro offers a line of proprietary seeds for turf, forage, cover crop, wildlife and pollinator needs, and its research custom-select or finish varieties to a grower’s specifications, according to the company.

For more information on DLF’s North American operations, visit www.dlfpickseed.com.