A sunflower marketing pool has been launched in response to increased interest in the crop from growers looking for spring alternatives.
Although only 400ha is currently grown in the UK, seed supplier Grainseed has confirmed demand could in fact support 40,000ha.
United Oilseeds managing director James Warner says the crop has been on the company’s radar for some time and as a result, they’ve launched the new marketing pool. “As break crop specialists, it feels right that we should be pushing the conversation forward, and what better way to do that than by getting the ball rolling with the UK’s first sunflower marketing pool,” he says.
With tricky conditions for farmers over the winter leading to uncertainty about what to plant in the spring, he says sunflowers could be a tempting prospect as an alternative.
Grainseed’s Neil Groom says they’ve been watching the potential growing area in the UK increase year on year. “Not only is the climate providing opportunities for growing sunflowers further north, but as farming practices evolve, this too supports the case,” he says.
Crop benefits
From a growing perspective, sunflowers are commended for being low input and effective at replenishing soil health and structure. Classed as an arable crop for SFI purposes, growers can see additional returns of £45/ha under IPM4.
Joining the pool
For growers interested in the sunflower marketing pool, it’ll be on a produce of area contract, default free when contracted solely to United Oilseeds. Crop movement is at the buyer’s call at the end of harvest, with storage options also available.
As with UOM OSR pools, growers will be able to draw down payments to suit cash flow requirements and for those that are members, the sunflower crop will be included as a part of the redistribution of profits payments.
Seed for the new marketing pool will be ES Bella from Grainseed – a popular Ultra Early variety in Europe. In UK trials, Bella has performed consistently well with good standing ability, disease resistance and high dry matter yield. While there are reports of yield potential reaching 4t/ha for UK grown sunflowers, growers should typically expect yields of 1.6-3t/ha.
