There’s a big, rich sunflower market growing in the United States, but Canadian farmers have been ignoring it, says Manitoba Agriculture’s sunflower specialist.
While prairie farmers continue to grow sunflower seeds for humans to spit or for birds to crunch, most American farmers have begun growing mid-oleic sunflowers, commonly known by their trade name of NuSun.
“I’m telling growers that this is where the demand is going to go,” said Rob Park of Manitoba Agriculture.
“That demand is going to drive the market. We should be growing NuSun because it offers you the possibility of a dual market.”
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Most Canadian farmers choose to grow either confectionary or oilseed sunflowers, but seldom both. The oilseed sunflowers used for birdseed usually sell for less than confectionary sunflowers, but are easier and cheaper to grow and market.
Park said NuSun sunflowers should be attractive to growers because they are no different to grow than the birdseed sunflowers, yet have a substantial premium.
The problem with NuSun varieties is that there is no local market. The closest crushers are in North Dakota. But Park said the premium can outweigh the shipping cost.
He is putting his money where his mouth is.
This spring Park and his father are seeding NuSun sunflowers and believe they can ship them to a Fargo, N.D., crusher for about 1.3 cents per pound, compared to a two cents per lb. premium.
“That’s why I said we should do it,” said Park.
NuSun varieties are available in Canada, but there are fewer than in the U.S., where NuSun varieties have been growing since 1997.
Fred Parnow, a marketer for NuSun seller Seeds 2000, said many Canadian farmers don’t realize they can grow and market NuSun varieties, or even realize that they exist.
“It hasn’t been talked about much in Canada,” said Parnow, who is based in Minnesota.
He estimates 50-60 percent of U.S. sunflower acreage will be in NuSun varieties this spring. Right now sunflowers are a small crop of about 3.5 million acres per year in the U.S.
Parnow said the explosion of NuSun acreage is being driven by demand from major food manufacturers such as Frito-Lay and Procter and Gamble.
He said these companies want to produce snack foods such as potato chips using healthier oils. The NuSun varieties, which are much higher in the proportion of oleic acid oils than traditional varieties, fit this bill.
Parnow said the U.S. crushers often offer premiums for NuSun sunflowers, which help farmers spread their marketing risks.
“It gives the farmer an option: whichever market offers a higher price, they can sell to,” said Parnow.
Park agreed.
“I think it’s a logical move to make,” said Park. “It’s the tip of the iceberg.”
