Tech Transfer: Seed Coatings

Guests: Matthew Madsen, PhD, Professor of Plant Science at BYU; Mike Alder, Director of BYU’s Technology Transfer Office  Western wildfires have become more frequent and more intense in the last several decades – partly because of an invasive weed called cheat grass. It springs up fast and is unappetizing to cattle, sheep and wild birds like the sage grouse. So, come peak fire season, the cheat grass is prime tinder. And once a blaze sweeps through the range, what do you suppose grows back quickest?  Cheat grass, because it doesn’t need much water and it easily beats out native grasses.  Rangeland managers and researchers are spending millions of dollars in a race to give those native grasses a better chance.  More information about technology developed at BYU is available at techtransfer.byu.edu.