FARMERS are being encouraged to grow sunflowers this sprin.

Edward Stanford, Grainseeds sunflower expert, said: “We are aware that the area of winter wheat, winter barley and winter rape are all down this year due to the very wet autumn and winter weather, so there is a huge opportunity to try something different this spring and grow sunflowers.

“Sunflowers are a straightforward crop to grow with few inputs (variable cost is only £276 per hectare) and being drilled from April 10 onwards allows growers a little more time to consider their options.

"We also know that with climate change and increasing temperatures, the suitable geographic area has already expanded well northwards.”

Grainseed are offering growers their variety Es Bella, which is the best-selling variety in the UK and is now sold by United Oilseeds who have introduced the first UK pool for sunflowers.

Ed said that there has been significant interest in growing sunflowers, and he sees this crop really flourishing within the next five years.

United Oilseeds have calculated the gross margins of some spring crops, which show that sunflowers are a financially attractive option compared to some non-cereal options that can be drilled later in the season once soils recover and good seedbeds can be created.

Ed also said it is also worth considering some of the SFI actions, which can add value to the crop.

Edward adds that “Bella is an early maturing high yielding variety that performs well in trials and commercially in England. It has good standing ability, high dry matter, high oil content of 48-50 per cent and excellent disease resistance.”

“We have a blooming brilliant opportunity, especially with increasing global temperatures, to produce more sunflowers domestically in the future. And brightening up the UK landscape, too. There is an upward demand for sunflowers in the UK. So why not have a go this spring?”