(Commodity News Service Canada) — Sunflower producers in Manitoba are approaching the end of harvest operations, just as the snow is beginning to fly.
Roger Kissick of Linear Grains at Carman, Man. said the harvest is around 75 per cent complete.
“There is still some out there that guys are having to wait for,” he said. “Snow’s a bit of a worry. What they are looking for is a good frost, so they can travel properly on the fields.”
Wet weather, and in particular the rains that came during the beginning to middle of September, had a negative effect on both yield and quality, he said.
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“Yields are average at best,” he said. “The quality in the Red River valley is iffy, but it’s a little better on the west side of the province.
“Sunflowers weren’t a real popular crop compared to some of its competitors out there.”
Acreage for sunflowers was very low this past crop year for a couple of reasons. “Oil sunflowers had less acres because the price wasn’t high enough and the crop insurance format isn’t as beneficial on the oil side,” Kissick said.
“Confection seeds had a few more acres as they have a reasonable crop insurance program, so there is a reduced risk.”
It’s been a challenge, he said, to find producers who want to seed sunflowers.
“Sunflowers have not been a money-making crop for about three years now,” he said. “There are your consistent growers, but it hasn’t been a very profitable crop, and when some of its competitors have been, it’s tough getting guys to grow it.”
Oil sunflower seeds have been bringing 20 cents per pound, while confectionary have been bringing 22 cents per pound, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire.
