Australia Interest in Sunflowers Wanes

DONALD - Jul 5/01 -STAT -- Low prices for sunflower seed on world oilseed markets and problems integrating the crop into weed management systems are contributing to a steady reduction in plantings in central Queensland.

Australian growers in the state, however, cannot afford to lose sunflowers as a rotation option believe Queensland Department of Primary Industries agronomist Kevin McCosker and Andrew Farquharson, product development manager with Pioneer Hi-Bred Australia.

At the same time the crop is struggling to find a place in zero till/conservation farming. And current prices aren't much chop, either. That sums up the message to the recent biennial Sunflower Conference in Yeppoon.

Failing interest in sunflower seed production is reflected in seeded area statistics for the crop. In its June crop report, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics projected this year's seeded area would total 68,000 hectares, down marginally from last year's 69,000 hectare crop; but well below the 120,000 hectares planted during the 1999-00 season and previous five year average seeded area of 123,000 hectares.

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