Teff grass growing in Klamath Basin area

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — A patch of grass seed growing near Klamath Falls has roots in Ethiopia.

There, water is short and days are long and hot. In the arid fields a grass called teff grows green and tall.

"It grows quick when it's hot," said Brian Charlton, a research assistant at Oregon State University's (OSU) Klamath Experiment Station.

Scientists have been testing how the plant grows on a few acres in the basin for three years, and two farmers are testing how it could fit in their rotations.

In Ethiopia, teff is mostly grown for its grain, about the size of a mustard seed.

Teff is ground into meal to make bread and is also used as an ingredient in home-brewed alcoholic beverages, according to OSU literature. Here, horses like it, Charlton said.

During the three years of testing, teff is showing it can yield a good crop to sell to horse owners, he said.

Ross Fleming hadn't planned on planting it this year. But when root rot shriveled 40 acres of potatoes, he needed to find something that would grow fast and produce a decent crop.

Fleming said he plans to sell the teff hay to horse owners. If it works out, he might plant teff regularly.