J.R. Simplot Co.’s purchase of Jacklin Seed Co. is increasing speculation that the end of Rathdrum Prairie grass growing is near.

Agricultural economists aren’t surprised by that reaction, but they say it’s too soon to say whether the purchase clearly signals the beginning of the end to grass fields.

“I would speculate that the Jacklins are setting this up to give themselves the options, rather than a definite course of action of abandoning the Rathdrum Prairie,” said Phil Wandschneider, an associate professor of agricultural economics at Washington State University.

Doyle Jacklin told reporters at a press conference Thursday that sales staff, management and research efforts would likely expand at the Simplot-Jacklin site in Post Falls. He simultaneously ruled out expansion of the seed processing plant here but said a new plant is possible in the Tri-Cities if Simplot keeps growing more grass in the Columbia Basin.

The Jacklins also talk of more Simplot grass production in southern Idaho and in Australia, where the business giant has 11 plants. Since Australia’s summers correspond to North Idaho’s winters, that acreage potentially means Simplot-Jacklin could produce grass seed year-round.

“I believe (Simplot’s) coming up here to help his own interests in southern Idaho,” said Wayne Meyer, a Rathdrum Prairie grower who also serves in the Idaho Legislature.

Simplot can take the genetic research Jacklin developed and build a healthy grass industry in southern Idaho, said Meyer, who plans to continue growing grass here as long as possible.

The increased production elsewhere will keep prices down, and that puts incredible pressure on growers who are weighing whether to subdivide their land or keep farming.

Other economists say a big, new player like Simplot is naturally going to give growers the jitters. “All of a sudden, to have Jacklin pull out, adds one more dog-gone variable,” said Herb Hinman, a cooperative extension economist at WSU.

“They’ve been dealing with Jacklin for years and now they are dealing with a new guy,” Hinman said. “And you may or may not get as good a deal as you got with Jacklin.”

Dave Holland, another agricultural economist, agrees farmers might fear a tougher bargain from Simplot who has several alternative seed sources. But there are other processors and they may step in if SimplotJacklin decides to step away or doesn’t offer enough money.

“Growers have often told me they got into grass because of Jacklin and after they learned how to grow it, they moved on because Jacklin has the reputation of being pretty tough,” Holland said.

In the end, however, the southern Idaho potato king may have little to do with the end of Rathdrum Prairie grass.

“Everybody can see if the (population) growth continues on the Rathdrum Prairie, it will be residential and commercial development in the long run,” Wandschneider said.

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