NATIONAL EDITION Alternative Crop Guide

1 NATIONAL EDITION Alternative Crop Guide Published by the Jefferson Institute SUNFLOWER. A Native Oilseed with Growing Markets Overview Sunflowers have a long history in the , dating back at least a thousand years to when they were cultivated in fields by Native Americans. Although modern sunflower cultivars were not grown widely in the until the 1970s, there were tests of sun- flower oilseed processing by the Southeast Missouri planted an inch deep in warm soil, but will take Sunflower Growers' Association in Missouri in 1926.

2 A few days longer in cooler soils or when planted Sunflowers are well adapted to many regions of the deeper. Soil crusting can make it difficult for the , even though their primary production has lately large seedlings to push out of the soil. Sunflowers been in the Northern and Western Plains. Sunflower grow rapidly, producing large, rough leaves. Cur- demand has been increasing for both vegetable oil rent commercial sunflower varieties reach an average and birdseed markets. of six feet in height. After reaching their full height and blooming, heads on commercial cultivars turn New government policies are making it more eco- downwards, designed to make it harder for birds to nomically favorable for sunflowers, primarily the eat the seed.

3 Availability of oilseed loan deficiency payments (LDPs) for sunflower. The growing size of the A field of sunflowers in bloom is a striking sight, sunflower market, both for oilseed and birdseed uses, and many farmers remark about the pleasure they, is creating new opportunity to add sunflowers to and people passing by, get from seeing the flowers. crop rotations. Sunflowers can be planted from April Each sunflower head, or inflorescence, is actually through July, including as a double crop after wheat. composed of two types of flowers.

4 What appears to be yellow petals around the edge of the head are By adding sunflower to an existing crop rotation, actually individual ray flowers. The face of the head pest problems such as corn borer or soybean cyst is comprised of hundreds of disk flowers, that each nematode can be reduced. Sunflower is shorter form into a seed (achene). Commercial sunflowers season than most crops, so can be planted later or have flowers that are self-compatible for pollination, harvested earlier, helping spread out work load.

5 Sun- meaning they do not require a pollinating insect, flowers are efficient at extracting water from the soil although some studies have shown bee pollinators profile, especially in sandy loam soils, and can often providing a slight yield boost. Sunflower heads turn tolerate drier conditions better than other crops. with, or track, the sun early in their development, but later stay east-facing before facing downwards. Growth and Development Some farmers like to plant their rows north and south Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

6 Is a broadleaf so that the heads can lean into the row space, rather plant that emerges from the soil with two large coty- than bumping against an adjacent plant, causing ledons. Emergence will take four to five days when some seed to fall. How to Grow Sunflower not yield better in narrow rows, whereas wide rows are preferable to allow cultivating for weeds or use Sunflowers work well as a full season crop in rota- a row crop header. Sunflowers are not particularly tion with corn, soybeans and/or sorghum. In south- sensitive to seeding rate, since head size (and seed ern areas, sunflowers work well as a double crop af- number) per plant will increase in a thinner stand.

7 Ter wheat, being faster maturing and more tolerant of Seeding rates can be from 15,000 to 25,000 plants dry conditions than soybeans. Regardless of whether per acre. Sunflower seeds vary in size, so seeding they are grown as a single crop or double crop, sun- rate based on weight must take into account seed flowers should not be planted in the same field more size, but will be roughly 3 to 4 pounds per acre. than once every three to four years. Sunflowers, Number 2 sunflower seeds are largest, while num- like soybeans, do not leave very much residue, so on ber 5 are smallest.

8 Most sunflower seed available erosive fields consider seeding a fall cover crop after is sized as a 3 or 4. Size of the seed can affect what sunflowers. Sunflowers generally grow best on well type of planter modifications are necessary, such as drained soils, are tolerant of clay loam or silty clay buying new seed plates or finger pickups. loam soils and perform comparatively well on sandy loam soils. They should not be grown on wet soils, Planting sunflower can begin anytime after soils but may be a good choice for bottom ground that have warmed to 50 F.

9 (April) through mid-July. It's doesn't dry out until early summer, since the sun- not a bad idea to plant sunflower on a couple of dif- flowers can be planted relatively late. ferent dates to reduce risk and spread out labor load. Planting early can allow sunflower to be harvested Variety Selection before corn and soybeans, and will help avoid bird Most major seed companies have several varieties of damage. Planting late can allow planting after other sunflower available. Almost all commercial variet- crops are done, and is less likely to have damage ies of sunflowers are hybrids, so new seed should be from sunflower moth.

10 Double crop planting after purchased each year. Companies have been actively wheat works well with sunflower and can be done in developing new hybrids of sunflowers with better traditional wheat-soybean double crop areas. disease resistance and higher yields. Special types with unique seed oil characteristics have been devel- Fertility oped through conventional plant breeding (not bio- Sunflower has modest fertility needs, but does re- tech), including NuSun sunflowers, that are higher spond to nitrogen. When following soybeans in the in oleic acid in their seed oil than conventional oil- rotation, roughly 50 to 70 lbs.