The Sunflower Grower August/September 2010

Help Save a Tree We strive to make our mailing list as efficient as possible. If you are (1) receiving duplicate copies of The Sunflower, (2) need to update your address, or (3) no longer wish to receive this magazine . . .

PLEASE CONTACT US TODAY! Phone Toll-Free: 888-718-7033 Ext. 5 E-Mail: lkroh@sunflowernsa.com

EXPERTISE. FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN.

Put the expertise of your CROPLAN GENETICS® seed local agronomists on your side.

They go beyond seed, offering all of the following weed control options: Clearfield® sunflower products, the DuPont™ ExpressSun® trait and conventional tillage products, so your field can grow to new heights. Contact us today.

© 2010 Winfield Solutions, LLC. CROPLAN GENETICS is a registered trademark of Land O’Lakes, Inc. Clearfield is a registered trademark of BASF AgroChemical Products BV. DuPont and ExpressSun are trademarks or registered trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.

Publisher — National Sunflower Association www.sunflowernsa.com Editor — Larry Kleingartner Advertising Manager — Lerrene Kroh Contributing Writer/Editor — Don Lilleboe

The Sunflower is published six times per year by the National Sunflower Association, a farmer and industry organization working to improve the profitability of sunflower for all sectors. Farmer checkoff commissions/councils, in N.D., S.D., Kan., and Colo., make up the basic funding and governing structure of the NSA. Assessments on volume in the oilseed and confection processing industries and the hybrid seed companies are a key funding component as well. Other important funding is from grants, including from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

Offices for The Sunflower are located at NSA headquarters, 2401 46th Ave. S.E., Ste. 206, Mandan, ND 58554. NSA & magazine phone number is (701) 328-5100; toll free (888) 718-7033; fax: (701) 663-8652.

U.S. farmers raising 10 or more acres of sunflower, extension agents, and public sunflower researchers are eligible to receive The Sunflower at no charge.

Others may subscribe at these rates: North American residents, US $9.00 for one year or US $24.00 for three years; overseas air mail, US $36.00 per year.

Information in The Sunflower does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the National Sunflower Association. Nor does advertising in The Sunflower imply endorsement by the publisher.

Vol. 36 No. 4

Executive Director Larry Kleingartner, Bismarck, N.D.

Aug./Sept. 2010

Page 8

How much longer until harvest?

Page 18

— FEATURES — Russian Drought Implications Huge for World Markets . . . . 6 Too early to know full impact on sunflower crop

New Weapon in Toolbox for Sunflower Desiccation . . . . . . . 8 BASF’s ‘Sharpen’ will be used by growers for first time this year

Harvest Attachments & Conversion Kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 What’s out there for sunflower producers?

Sanitation Key for Avoiding Combine Fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Tough fall in 2009; tips on minimizing issues this year

Current NSA officers and directors: Chairman Tim DeKrey, Steele, N.D. President Don Schommer, Munich, N.D. First Vice President Tom Young, Onida, S.D. Second Vice President Leon Zimbelman, Keenesburg, Colo.

Secretary/Treasurer John Swanson, Mentor, Minn Directors Brad Bonhorst, Fort Pierre, S.D. Kevin Capistran, Crookston, Minn.

Guy Christensen, Enderlin, N.D. Mike Clemens, Wimbledon, N.D. Tim Egeland, Crookston, Minn.

Karl Esping, Lindsborg, Kan. Reginal Herman, Brinsmade, N.D. John McLean, West Fargo, N.D. Jeff Oberholtzer, Mohall, N.D. Mike Odegaard, Bismarck, N.D. Art Ridl, Dickinson, N.D. Ron Seidel, Meadow, S.D. Dean Sonnenberg, Fleming, Colo.

Arnold Woodbury, Wyndmere, N.D.

IN THIS ISSUE

Causes of Combine & Tractor Fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 South Dakota farm safety specialist offers prevention, response advice

S.D. Growers Convert Row-Crop Head for More Capacity . 21 Sperry brothers achieve their objective at moderate cost

SNP, SNP, SNP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 High-tech breeding initiative aims to keep sunflower competitive

It’s That (Blackbird) Time of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 USDA program helps affected growers combat predators

The Cost of Moisture Shrinkage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Understanding ‘moisture shrink’ in sunflower

Spittin’ Mad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Sunflower seeds among items banned at Kansas baseball stadium

The Sunflower Marks 35 Years! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Magazine’s first issue printed in August 1975

Sunflower Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 News items from the world of sunflower COVER — The 2010 harvest season is fast approaching!

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

Photo: Don Lilleboe 3

Sunflower Briefs USDA-ARS Entomologist Larry Charlet Retires Dr. Larry Charlet has retired as the USDA-ARS Sunflower Research Unit entomologist after 32 years. Charlet came to the Fargo unit at a time when insect control recommendations had to be made without having sufficient confirming research in place. He worked closely with university entomologists to develop research protocols in multiple locations.

In recent years, Charlet has worked with key university partners in identifying genetic resistance to a number of insect pests, including the sunflower head moth, Larry Charlet banded moth, stem weevil and red seed weevil. This team has identified significant genetic differences, and the program is now moving into the breeding stage.

USDA Geneticist Invited As Guest Lecturer Dr. Brent Hulke, USDA-ARS Sunflower Research Unit sunflower geneticist, has been invited to present a seminar at the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding at Iowa State University. The lecture series is by invitation and has included plant breeders from around the world.

Iowa State University has a long history in plant breeding and

has produced many notable plant breeders. The private sector is heavily invested in ISU’s programs, with Pioneer Hi-Bred and Monsanto having major breeding facilities in close proximity to the university campus.

Hulke’s presentation is titled “Challenges and Opportunities in Breeding a Minor Field Crop: The Case History and Unrealized Potential of Sunflower.”

A Minnesota native, Hulke earned his degrees from South Dakota State University, Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota. He has been with Brent Hulke the Fargo-based ARS unit for three years.

Details on the ISU series, with video of lectures, are available at: http://www.plantbreeding.iastate.edu/ pro_bp_lectures.html.

Mullally Named NSA Communications Director Sonia Mullally has joined the National Sunflower Association staff as communications director. She has 10 years of communications experience working with newspaper business and media firms, most recently as advertising manager and staff writer for the Pierce Country Tribune in Rugby N.D. Mullally has additional experience with several companies in graphic arts design.

She is a graduate of Concordia College.

As communications director, Mullally will be writing stories for The Sunflower magazine, updating and enhancing the Sonia Mullally NSA website, assisting state checkoff councils/commissions in their media work, and expanding the NSA media reach nationally.

Seidel and Odegaard Now on NSA Board Ron Seidel of Meadow S.D., is the newest member of the National Sunflower Association Board of Directors. He represents the South Dakota Oilseed Council, which now has three NSA board members, based on the association’s funding formula.

Seidel operates an integrated small grains, oilseeds and livestock operation near Meadow in northwestern South Dakota.

Mike Odegaard of BASF Corporation now represents the crop protection industry on the NSA board. Odegaard, who works out of Bismarck N.D., has been with BASF for 15 years. As an Ron Seidel Mike Odegaard NSA board member, he replaced Vince Ulstad of BASF, who was seriously injured last year in an automobile accident.

Stern Memorial Scholarship Winner Sam Partlow of Carrington ND., a student at North Dakota State University, is the recipient of a $1,500 Curt Stern Memorial Scholarship. A third-year agronomy student, Partlow plans to return to his home area to increase his existing farm operation. ■

4

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

Recent Public Sunflower Research Appointments Verticillium Research Initiative Dr. Kholoud Alananbeh has been hired to work on Verticillium wilt in sunflower. Alananbeh, a native of Jordan, recently received her Ph.D. in plant pathology from North Dakota State University.

Her Ph.D. work was on Verticillium in potatoes. Verticillium vegetative compatibility groups (VCG), a type of race, are being identified in her sunflower work.

The aggressiveness of each VCG identified will be characterized. The third objective is to develop molecular marker techniques for genetic resistance evaluation.

Kholoud Alananbeh The National Sunflower Association is funding Alananbeh’s postdoctoral fellowship. While Verticillium has not been a significant factor in the U.S., the NSA board agreed it is necessary to get ahead of any disease developments.

Sclerotinia Wild Species Project Dr. Zhao Liu has been a member of the Sclerotinia research team since January 2008, serving as a postdoctoral research associate of the USDA-ARS Sunflower Research Unit in Fargo, N.D. Liu completed her master’s degree in crop genetics and breeding from Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China. She received her Ph.D. degree from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China, with a major in biochemistry and molecular biology.

At the Fargo ARS unit, she is working Zhao Liu on transferring Sclerotinia resistance genes from wild Helianthus species into the cultivated sunflower, working under the guidance of Drs. C. C. Jan, Gerald Seiler and Thomas Gulya. Her research progress has been outstanding, with activities in the greenhouse, field and in the laboratory using molecular markers and microscopy. Advanced generation lines derived from various wild perennial Helianthus species are in the field for the second-year evaluation.

Liu’s position is funded by the National Sclerotinia Initiative.

Doubled Haploid Research Team Dr. Xuelin Fu has been selected to work on development of a doubled haploid system for sunflower breeding. Fu will be employed by the Plant Sciences Department at North Dakota State University and will work with the Fargo USDA-ARS Sunflower Research Unit.

A native of China, Fu received her Ph.D. in plant genetics and breeding at South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou. Her dissertation work was with rice, where she studied the transfer of genes from wild relatives of rice to cultiXuelin Fu vated rice. Utilizing wild germplasm, she also developed substitution lines in rice that will aid in rice breeding. Fu has extensive research experience in plant tissue culture, especially with wheat, carrot, rice and aloe.

Fu was appointed associate professor of plant genetics and

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

breeding at the College of Agronomy in South China Agricultural University in 2001. She taught genetics and plant breeding courses, and supervised graduate student research experiences.

Doubled haploid technology allows experimental lines to be developed much faster than through traditional breeding. It also accelerates the genetic mapping of important agronomic genes to specific locations on chromosomes.

Fu joins a doubled haploid development team comprised of Drs. C. C. Jan, Lili Qi and Brent Hulke of the USDA-ARS Sunflower Research Unit, and Dr. Richard Horsley of the NDSU Plant Sciences Department. Funding for the project was provided by a consortium of NSA member hybrid seed companies.

Confection Rust Research Dr. Li Gong has joined the USDA-ARS Sunflower Research Unit, focusing on confection sunflower genetic resistance to rust.

She will be working with Dr. Sam Markell, plant pathologist at NDSU, and Dr. Lili Qi, molecular geneticist at the Fargo-based ARS unit.

Gong received her Ph.D. from an Austrian university in molecular genetics and plant breeding, having worked on molecular breeding of oilseed pumpkin.

She has completed postdoctoral work at the University of Florida in marker development and germplasm diversity of several ornamental plants.

Li Gong Gong’s sunflower work is funded by a grant received from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

Insect Resistance Work Continues Dr. Anitha Chirumamilla is a postdoctoral scientist who is a key part of the insect resistance research team involving the USDA ARS Sunflower Research Unit, Kansas State University, South Dakota State University and North Dakota State University.

One of Chirumamilla’s responsibilities is determining the manner of the plant’s resistance so that it can be enhanced. Work is being done on the sunflower moth, banded moth, stem weevil and the red seed weevil. Testing for resistance requires field Anitha Chirumamilla plots in areas where a particular insect population is consistent.

Chirumamilla received her undergraduate degree in her native India and her Ph.D. from NDSU. Her postdoc assignment is supported by the National Sunflower Association.

Sclerotinia Resistance Breeding Dr. Zahirul Talukder is a postdoctoral scientist working with the USDA ARS Sunflower Research Unit on Sclerotinia resistance breeding. He is a native of Bangladesh and received his Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom in plant molecular biology.

Talukder’s position is combining field nursery work of laboratory analysis in identifying additional genetic markers for resistance to Sclerotinia. He is working Zahirul Talukder under the guidance of Dr. Brent Hulke, the Unit’s sunflower research geneticist. His position is funded by the National Sclerotinia Initiative.

■

5

than other row crops. Between 40 to 50% of Russia’s sunflower crop is produced in the areas that have been hardest hit by the drought.

My opinion is that losses will be greater than currently anticipated. Some analysts have reduced their world sunflower crop production estimates by one million metric tons (or so) because of the drought in Russia. U.S. sunflower yield prospects, on the other hand, look very, very good.

arkets

Russian Drought Implications Huge W For World Grain & Oilseed Markets

By Mike Krueger

S

ummer markets in this country typically revolve around weather and crop ratings. U.S. weather has been a bearish market factor this summer. Most of the Corn Belt and Northern Plains have experienced a generally excellent growing season, with normal to above-normal temperatures and precipitation. Problems have centered on too much moisture rather than too little.

Last spring, extended weather forecasts were calling for the possibility we could have a hot and dry latter half of the summer. So far, those conditions have been mostly limited to the Deep South. The result has been great crop condition ratings for basically every crop. About 75% (or so) of the corn, soybean and wheat crops have been rated good to excellent throughout the season. That has led to high yield estimates and a market attitude that was decidedly bearish through most of June.

The weather market of 2010 wasn’t in the U.S. It occurred in Russia with a major drought that didn’t show up on traders’ radar screens until mid- to late June. The severity of the drought surpassed anyone’s expectations and has caused a very sharp reduction in crop production in Russia, with smaller reductions in surrounding FSU countries.

The immediate response came in the wheat market, which rallied nearly $3.00 a bushel from the end of June to the first week of August. It was almost a singlecommodity rally in that corn and soybeans did not tag along. That’s because Russia Mike Krueger is owner of The Money Farm, a grain marketing consulting firm.

While the information in this article is believed to be reliable, marketing involves risk, and the author and The Sunflower assume no liability for its use.

6

The drought in Russia is a very significant and fundamental occurrence for the grain and oilseed markets. . . .

Damage to the sunflower crop is not yet fully known. has been a large volume and cheap exporter of wheat the past two marketing years. The drought has cut their wheat crop significantly, and Russia has declared a moratorium on wheat exports.

The market has yet to talk about how the drought has also devastated Russia’s hay and forage crops. That will mean they will need to import feed grains or sharply reduce livestock herds.

This drought is a very significant fundamental occurrence for the grain and oilseed markets. As the drought persists, it has also drastically reduced yield potential for feed grain and oilseeds crop yields, including sunflower. USDA’s August 12 world supply and demand report cut Russia’s total wheat and feed grains production to just 65.9 million metric tons, down from 104.4 million last year. That is a huge change to the markets.

I

t is interesting that the big market response in wheat has yet to spill over into crops like sunflower, since sunflower is a major crop in Russia. Of course, there are no futures markets for sunflower, so the large speculators have no way to buy or go long on sunflower like they can in the various wheat futures markets.

The damage to the sunflower crop is also not fully known yet. Sunflower matures later and toleratess drought better

orld oilseed markets have remained much stronger than expected through the summer, for reasons other than the Russian drought. The extremely wet Canadian spring planting season resulted in sharply lower canola acres than expected. Soybean demand to China simply does not stop or even slow down. The record soybean crop in South America hardly put a dent in soybean prices because of big weekly purchases of newcrop soybeans from the U.S. by China. The USDA announced soybean sales to China on seven consecutive days in early August.

The soybean outlook is still considered bearish, based on projections that U.S. ending supplies will double in the next marketing year and world soybean supplies will be record large. Oilseeds markets, however, have ignored the big supply picture and focused on the rapidly expanding demand outlook. Soybean demand should continue to outpace expectations.

The U.S. vegetable oil outlook continues to be hampered by the failure of Congress to reinstate the biodiesel tax credit that expired last December. More biodiesel production facilities close every month the credit is not available. The business is not profitable without the tax credit.

T

he sunflower market has been relatively steady the past few months, but has recently rallied back toward the highs of the last six months. Sunflower oil prices have strengthened considerably. The August USDA crop production and supply and demand reports increased the soybean yield to a record 44 bushels per acre, but increased demand offset the increase in production. The corn yield was also estimated to be a record 165 bushels an acre, but increased demand actually reduced ending supplies.

Demand will be the story of the 2010/11 marketing year. China continues to aggressively buy soybeans and could be a larger importer of corn than expected.

The decline in Black Sea region production will push more wheat and corn demand to the U.S. The sunflower market should benefit from the strengthening demand outlook.

■

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

Technology in your seed

®

Combine genetics for northern growing conditions ZLWK WKH PRVW DGYDQFHG VXQÀRZHU WHFKQRORJ\ DYDLODEOH

(888) 786-7333 www.seeds2000.net

New Weapon in Toolbox For Sunflower Desiccation Availability of ‘Sharpen’ Broadens Growers’ Options; Variety of Reasons for Considering Desiccation

S

unflower growers have access to a new desiccation tool in 2010. That tool is Sharpen® (saflufenacil), part of the Kixor herbicide group from BASF. Sharpen actually received a full Section 3 label from EPA in late 2009 — too late to be used in the field.

The product has been researched as a desiccant on sunflower starting in 2007, in four locations: Minot and Fargo N.D., Brookings, S.D., and Hays, Kan. This desiccation research, funded by the National Sunflower Association, compared Sharpen with already-labeled products

Days Earlier Harvest Than ‘Control’ — 2007 & 2008 Minot, ND

Fargo, ND

Brookings, SD

Hays, KS

40% Seed Moisture Gramoxone Sharpen Roundup Roundup + Sharpen

2007 25 27 17 26

2007 11 7 9 12

2008 NA NA NA NA

2008 6 7 8 4

2007 5 5 3 5

2008 10 15 11 13

30% Seed Moisture Gramoxone Sharpen Roundup Roundup + Sharpen

8 9 3 7

7 6 8 5

8 3 6 6

3 2 3 1

1 2 1 0

4 3 3 0

Research conducted by Kirk Howatt and Brian Jenks (NDSU), Mike Moechnig (SDSU) and Phil Stahlman (KSU).

8

such as Paraquat Inteon® and Roundup OriginalMax® (which is labeled for lateseason weed control).

Although the 2009 season was a “bust” for this research (as were certain years in other locations), data point out that Sharpen will be a good option when fall weather conditions are conducive.

The data on the chart below indicate that harvest can occur as much as 10 days earlier in North Dakota with the use of a desiccant. The results were not as significant in South Dakota or Kansas, where the numbers indicate no difference to a sevenday earlier harvest.

The advantage with Sharpen is that it is faster acting then Roundup Original.

Gramoxone Inteon (Paraquat) is fast acting and kills the leaves quickly, but does not translocate. Sharpen is both a contact and systemic herbicide and does a better job of drying down the stem compared to Gramoxone, according to NDSU’s Kirk Howatt.

Another advantage over Graxomone is that Sharpen is not a “cell disrupter.” So the plant is not as likely to rehydrate if rainfall is received after an application of Sharpen. The combination of Sharpen and Roundup Original has advantages in better weed kill for late-season weed control.

When to pull the trigger on spraying a desiccant is a bit tricky. Spraying too late when seed moisture is under 30% does not provide much advantage in earlier harvest compared to the control of “no desiccant.”

Labels specify desiccating at 36% seed moisture or less for Sharpen and 35% or less for the other labeled products.

Determining the exact seed moisture level is a guessing game at best. Oven drying seed samples and comparing the weights before and after oven drying is the most exact procedure. For field observation, Howatt likes to follow the drydown of the bracts. When the tip of the bract is brown, the seed moisture is between 5040%. When the neck of the bract has turned brown, the seed is about 40%.

When the shoulder of the bract is brown or dried (see diagram on page 10), the seed moisture will be 30-35%.

Kansas State University weed scientist Phil Stahlman says seed moistures vary within the field and the head, so it will be impossible to peg the moisture level at an exact number. Seed moisture is going to be lower in the first seed rows of the head compared to the last-filling center. The key of this long-term research is that there has been no damage to oil content, seed size, test weight or yield when plants were desiccated at 40% seed moisture.

Additional research funded by the NSA and conducted by Dr. Burton Johnson of NDSU and Dr. Russ Gesch of USDA-ARS at Morris Minn., revealed

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

These three photos depict typical sunflower fields at three different seed moisture levels: • Above Left — This field’s seed moisture is at about 70%, which is definitely too early to apply a desiccant.

• Above Right — This field’s seeds are at approximately 50% moisture . . . still too early for a desiccant treatment.

• Left — Here the seed moisture has fallen under 35%, the heads are yellowing, and the bracts are beginning to turn brown. This is an appropriate stage for the application of a crop desiccant (or of a glyphosate weed control product).

Below: These photos compare the degree of plant drydown that has occurred in untreated plot and plots treated with Sharpen, Gramoxone and Roundup, respectively.

Sharpen

Gramoxone

Roundup

Photos: Kirk Howatt / NDSU

Untreated

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

9

Credit: Kirk Howatt / NDSU

Utilizing Bracts as Cues to Seed Moisture

that there are differences between hybrids when comparing seed moisture and physiologic maturity. The researchers looked at Mycogen’s 8N272 and Croplan’s 378 for physiological maturity, including yield, oil content and fatty acid composition. For yield, 8N272 and 378 reached maturity between 35-45% seed moisture. Oil con-

tent and fatty acid composition reached maturity between five to 10 moisture points higher.

This was from research conducted in 2008 and 2009 at Morris and Prosper N.D. These results, combined with the multistate research team data, clearly indicate that erring on the high side of 35% seed

SunStar

Your Standard Corn Head Harvests Corn and Sunflowers with a Simple SunStar Conversion!

Expand Crop Options Without Worrying About Harvesting Problems SunStar is designed to work in a variety of field and crop conditions Move quickly through standing sunflowers.

Take advantage of your corn head’s ability to pick up and salvage lodged heads, something most header conversions won’t do. An inexpensive SunStar conversion makes it easy without modification of your corn head. It has no moving parts to wear or replace.

Call us today, and we will give you more of the SunStar story. It works, and it can pay its way in the very first year.

Installation Takes About 30 Minutes Per Row Uses Existing Holes & Hardware; No Drilling

Models Available for All JD Heads, Case 800, 1000 & 4200 Series and New Holland 98C

Call 800-255-8280 www.goldenplains.com/sunstar/ 10

moisture is not going to impact yield or quality.

There is no suggestion here of going off label. It is simply a summarization that determining physiological maturity and seed moisture within the field, within an individual head and between hybrids is going to vary by as much as 10 percentage points.

The importance of an early desiccant spray in the northern region is to take advantage of warmer temperatures in September. Herbicides work best with warm temperatures, allowing the plant to translocate the herbicide. “In northern North Dakota and Minnesota, it doesn’t usually make a lot of sense to desiccate in October since our killing frost is usually at that time,” Howatt says. But if the crop is mature in early September, there can be significant advantages in accelerating the harvest with a desiccant. “It still all depends on the weather after the application,” Howatt observes.

There are several reasons why desiccation should be considered. Stalk integrity is one. John Swanson of Croplan Genetics, a longtime sunflower agronomist, advises farmers and crop scouts to split a few stalks after petal drop to determine what kind of insect activity is taking place in that stalk. “If there is a lot of tunneling, it might make sense to desiccate and get that crop off as soon as possible to avoid stalk breakage later on,” says Swanson. The obvious blackbird issue in the north is an additional reason for pushing for early harvest.

Desiccation is a good tool for High Plains growers who want to get winter wheat planted on the sunflower stubble, says KSU’s Stahlman. “Otherwise, the heat units in the High Plains region are sufficient for natural drydown.”

Desiccation is another management tool that will not be an option each year.

A good example was 2009, when the crop finally matured in late September due to the cool growing season. A killing freeze followed shortly thereafter throughout the entire production region as far south as Kansas. Researchers were not able to spray the desiccant because Mother Nature took care of it. — Larry Kleingartner ■

The importance of an early desiccant spray in the northern region is to take advantage of warmer temperatures in September.

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

What’s Available in Sunflower

Photo: Don Lilleboe

Harvest Attachments & Conversion Kits

DragoTec USA Editor’s Note: Many sunflower producers utilize row-crop combine heads to harvest this crop. A nd many others opt for a harvest attachment specifically designed for sunflower. Still others employ special conversion kits fitted to their corn head.

These pages contain information on several sunflower attachments and conversion kits available to producers. The information has been provided by the respective companies and edited for use in The Sunflower.

This compilation is not totally inclusive, as not all companies contacted responded to our request for information. Most did, however.

Contact details are included for those growers who wish to visit further about a given company’s products.

12

Drago sunflower knives have been marketed since 2002. They are manufactured for use with the Drago corn head deck plates. Drago corn heads range in rows from four to 18; in row spacing from 20 inches up to 40.

The Drago has 50% longer knife rollers that pull the plants into the deck plates and gathering chains at low velocity, thereby reducing shatter and yield loss.

The Drago corn head has automatic selfadjusting deck plates, saving butt shelling loss — particularly on the newer fast-drydown hybrids.

This head can be adapted to almost any combine by using the proper feeder house adapter plate for the specific combine model.

For More Information: DragoTec USA , 3701 30th Ave., Fenton, IA 50539; phone — (888) 456-8282 or (515) 889-2723; website — www.dragotec.com

Flexxifinger The Flexxifinger™ QD™ Sunflower Pan was introduced to farmers in 2007 by the Saskatchewan agricultural manufacturer Flexxifinger QD Industries. It is designed for quick installation, removal or transition to other types of harvest attachments. The sunflower system will undergo its final stages of customer trials this season (contact Flexxifinger if interested) and is expected to be available to the general market in 2011.

The incline is aimed at salvaging lodged or low-hanging plant heads. “The Flexxifinger QD Sunflower Pans are installed using our patented QD™ attachment system, which is installed separately on the header using provided guard bolts and a special QD nut, fastened on the top side of the guard,” says the firm. “This allows a pan to be removed or installed in seconds and an entire header in minutes.”

For More Information: Flexxifinger QD Industries, P.O. Box 1599, A ssiniboia, SK S0H 0B0 Canada; phone — in U.S. (800) 544-8512; in Canada (800) 9251510; website — www.flexxifinger.com

Gates Manufacturing Gates Manufacturing has marketed its “Quick Tach” sunflower pans for a number of years. The 48”-long durable plastic pans are available in three- and four-pan assembly units for easy handling.

Overall unit widths range from three up to 36 feet. The pans are designed to

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

mount easily (via just two tighteners) on any auger or draper head.

Gates also offers liftrods that can be easily attached to the pans to aid with the harvesting of lodged plants.

For More Information: Gates Manufacturing Inc., 8710 33rd Avenue N.W, Lansford, ND 58750; phone — (701) 784-5434 or 784-5525; website — www.gatesmfg.net

Golden Plains Ag Tech Golden Plains, based in Colby, Kan., has been marketing the “SunStar” sunflower harvesting system for the past 17 years, serving customers in North and South America as well as several countries elsewhere.

SunStar corn head attachments are used on John Deere and Case IH corn heads. Golden Plains has a model for the JD 600 Series corn head, as well as the Case 2200 and Case 2400 Series and New Holland 98C. SunStar is designed to take advantage of the unique physical characteristics of the sunflower stalk. For that reason, sunflower is the only crop that can be harvested while the SunStar attachments are installed. However, the attachments are installed and removed quite easily, so the grower can quickly switch from ’flowers to corn, or vice versa, if needed.

“With SunStar conversions installed on the producer’s corn head, he can move quickly through his standing ’flowers with a very small loss,” says Golden Plains Ag Tech. “He will be able to lift lodged stalks and move the heads into the combine with minimum loss.” Sunflower heads enter the cross auger “with the heads unbroken and six to 12 inches of stalk still attached to the head,” the company states.

SunStar has no moving parts and requires no physical modification for attachment to the corn head. “There is only one simple adjustment which is

usually made only once per season,” says Golden Plains.

For More Information: Golden Plains A g Tech, P.O. Box 307, Colby, KS 67701; phone — (800) 255-8280; website — www.goldenplains.com/sunstar/

Intersteel Industries The Intersteel sunflower attachment has been marketed for more than 40 years.

Pan width options are nine, 12 and 27 inches, and it is available in all rigid header lengths. The pans mount atop guards,

with pan supports that attach beneath the combine header. The reel drum mounts with bearings and drive system from the bat reel supplied by the combine manufacturer.

“Pan width, length and rotating drum help feed plant heads into the combine/ header smoothly and evenly,” Intersteel states. “Pan width and length ensure maximum collection of shattered seeds in dry crop conditions. The nine-inch pans offer most versatility for any row spacing and also work well for solid seeding.” The Intersteel attachment also has been used

Call Today to Discuss Your High Oleic Sunflower Seed Marketing Plans.

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010Oil Seeds Ad.indd

4

13

11/13/08 4:15:38 PM

presently offers nine and 12-inch pan width options with its non-reel system.

Other options include liftrods for lodged plants and roller tips that are particularly useful in solid-seeded fields.

For More Information: Lucke Manufacturing, 305 33rd Ave. S.W., Minot, ND 58701; phone — (800) 7355848 or (800) 735-5838; website — www.luckemanufacturing.com with corn, the company reports.

Along with the United States and Canada, Intersteel has sold its harvest attachment in Chili and the Sudan.

For More Information: Intersteel Industries, P.O. Box 1451, Morden, MB R6M 1B3, Canada; phone — (204) 8225055 or (877) 839-9301; website — www.intersteelindustries.com

Lucke Manufacturing The original Lucke sunflower harvesting attachment dates back to 1966. Lucke

Sheyenne Tooling & Mfg. The “Sunmaster” harvest header has been around since 1995. It was originally produced by Westward Products and later bought by Jim Broten, a North Dakota farmer and the owner of Sheyenne Tooling & Mfg. in Cooperstown, N.D. The Sunmaster is available in eight-, 12- and 16-row 30-inch spacing sizes.

Also, 12-, 16- and 18-row 20-inch spacing sizes are available under an early order program.

The units can be used to harvest corn and milo in addition to sunflower. The system will fit on any combine, with adapter plates available.

The Sunmaster’s star cutting knife, with its four large, thick sickle knives, is positioned at the back end of the gathering chains. This design ensures that when the sunflower head is cut off, it will fall either directly onto the platform or onto the

vibrating pan and be moved to the platform. As the stalk is being moved to the knife, it is already positioned over the pan.

So any seed loss caused by shattering is minimized as the seeds also fall onto the pan and are moved to the platform.

A cam on the drive shaft pushes a rocker arm up and down beneath the pan.

This action vibrates the seeds back onto the platform.

The Sunmaster effectively harvests lodged sunflower plants. Depending on field conditions, it may go with or against the plants’ angle — or even crossways.

The row dividers slide along at ground level, with each divider moving up and down independently. The ground-level travel, coupled with the star cutters’ position at the back of the gathering chain, ensures significant crop savings.

Some of the other seed-saving features of the Sunmaster are: • Replaceable shoes on the underside of the point of each divider.

• Brackets on each end of the header to prevent heads from getting hung up in a back corner.

• An adjustable ridge plate to help direct the stalk into the header.

• Optional sprockets allowing the operator to match the gathering chains to the ground speed.

For More Information: Sheyenne Tooling & Mfg., P.O. Box 647, Cooperstown, ND 58425; phone — (800) 797- 1883 or (701) 797-2700; website—www.sheyennemfg.com

West Country Products Jamestown, N.D.-based West Country Products has distributed the “SeedEater” sunflower harvesting attachment since 2006. Midwestern Machine, its manufacturer, acquired the attachment in 1986.

The product underwent an extensive makeover in 1994 to improve upon its fit, function and aesthetics. Along with sunflower, the SeedEater also has been used successfully in milo.

This harvesting attachment has been sold across the United States and in 14 foreign nations. The company is an OEM supplier for John Deere and Case New Holland for their overseas sales.

The SeedEater is available with pan widths or either nine or 12 inches. Overall

14

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

attachment widths range from 18 up to 30 feet. “Key features of the SeedEater include a heavy-duty 16-gauge drum with specially designed fingers to move sunflower heads gently but positively to the auger,” says West Country Products.

“Also, heavy-duty 14-gauge pans with strong design and extra-long dividers for more-positive row alignment.

“The SeedEater is easily mounted on your own combine header and can be left on a dedicated header or removed,” West Country adds. “The pans are mounted on a permanent tube frame; therefore the drum can be rolled off the reel arms onto the pans. The chain binders release on the back of the header, and you are ready to back away from the SeedEater.”

For More Information: West Country Products, Inc., P.O. Box 2062, Jamestown, ND 58401; phone — (866) 974-2182 or (701) 251-2182; website — www.westcountryproducts.com ■

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

5 8 E H

DMR Sunflower with HI-Octane Yield & Oleic Content

15

Sanitation Key For Avoiding Combine Fires Weather Conditions in Northern Plains During 2009 Harvest Contributed to HigherThan-Usual Number of Fires.

Good Housekeeping & Close Vigilance Always Important.

D

id your mother always emphasize that “cleanliness is next to godliness?� If so, she obviously was referring to your personal hygiene — not that of your combine. But when it comes to preventing combine fires while harvesting sunflower,

a thorough, regular cleaning should take precedence even over a heart felt prayer.

The 2009 sunflower harvest season provided a good example. It brought a higher-than-usual number of combine fires to parts of the Northern Plains growing

g Make Your Life Easie Helpin r...

‡ Multiple delivery pointss throughout the growing regions ons ‡ &RQWDFW XV IRU 2SHQ 0DUNHW ‡ &RQWDFW XV IRU 2SHQ 0DUUNHW DQG DQG &RQWUDFW &RQWUDFW 3ULFLQJ Buyers of: ‡ &RQIHFWLRQ ‡ &RQRLOV ‡ 2LO 6XQà RZHU ‡ )OD[ ‡ 0LOOHW ‡ &RQIHFWLRQ ‡ &RQRLOV ‡ 2LO 6XQà RZHU ‡ )OD[ ‡ 0LOOHW ‡ 0LOR ‡ 2UJDQLFV ‡ 2WKHU 6SHFLDOLW\ *UDLQV ‡ 0LOR ‡ 2UJDQLFV ‡ 2WKHU 6SHFLDOLW\ *UDLQV Receiving Receiv ing Locations: ‡ Fargo

‡ -DPHVWRZQ ‡%ULQVPDGH ‡ -DPHVWRZQ ‡%ULQVPDGH

‡0LOOHU 6' ‡0LOOHUU 6' '

Putting g You Your ur Seeds “In the Bag�

Bag g�

For More M Information Please Ca Call: all:

18

)DUJR 1' ‡ 7HUU\ %ROO # RU )DUJR 1' ‡ 7H HUU\ %ROO # RU

&ROE\ .6 ‡ %UD DG 7KRPSVRQ # R

RU

&ROE\ .6 ‡ %UDG 7KRPSVRQ # RU /XEERFN 7; ‡ 0LNH :LOOLDPV # RU /XEERFN 7; ‡ 0LNH : LOOLDPV #

RU

region — particularly the central and western Dakotas. Weather was the primary ingredient, in most cases. A wet early fall was followed by a dry and abnormally warm late October and November. Many fields were harvested at seed moistures well below 10% — and sunflower stalks also were very dry.

So along with countless ‘fines’ from those high-oil seeds, there was a lot of dust from pulverized heads and stalks floating around the combine. It was a “perfect storm� of dangerous proportions — a storm that sometimes produced damaging consequences, even for the most careful of producers.

Lauren Russell discovered that the hard way. The Selby, S.D., farmer has grown sunflower for a long time and is very attuned to the importance of good combine housekeeping. “We’ve always been leery of fires,� he says. “We’re extremely tidy because of that danger.�

Along with blowing off residue prior to each day’s harvesting, Russell uses a portable compressor or leaf blower to clean out dust, chaff and fines during unloading stops out in the field. Also, “before we quit at night, if we smell anything or have glowing embers, we’ll wash it down so we don’t have something taking off on us while it’s parked.� Fire extinguishers, both dry and water, are standard on-board equipment.

But such precautions still weren’t enough one afternoon during last fall’s sunflower harvest. “Glowing embers from the manifold or exhaust somehow dropped through a floor compartment beneath the engine where some wheat chaff and dust had accumulated,� Russell recounts.

THE SUNFLOWER  August/September 2010

Though his John Deere STS 9660 had been carefully cleaned prior to heading to the field that day, “because it was a new combine for us, we didn’t realize there was an enclosed compartment under some false flooring that allowed the wheat chaff to get in,� he recalls. The fuel tank was adjacent to that space.

After the fire was discovered, the Russells put it out quickly with their onboard extinguisher. “But it had already melted through the fuel tank and some hydraulic and electric lines,� he relates.

The event translated into an $18,000 repair bill — and was further complicated by his dealer needing to place him on a waiting list to get a new fuel tank. Russell eventually hired a custom harvester to bring in the rest of his sunflower crop. Then the late fall snows became too deep and the corn too wet to go after his standing corn, “so we hired a Cat combine with tracks and a grain cart with tracks to finally take the corn off this spring.�

Needless to say, during the 2010 harvest Russell plans to pay extra attention to any camouflaged compartments or ledges on his combine where dust, chaff or fines can accumulate. “We’ve had smoldering fires in the past, but nothing as severe as last year,� he reflects. “I think it was just

‘I’ve never heard of a fire when the seeds are above 11 or 12% moisture unless a bearing went out, or something similar.’ the extreme weather conditions and extreme sunflower conditions that created the problem.� So it was, then, essentially a “perfect storm?� “I sure hope so,�

Russell quips, “because I don’t want a repeat of it this year!�

B

rad Bonhorst a Fort Pierre, S.D., producer and National Sunflower Association board member, strongly agrees that machine cleanliness is of paramount importance. “The biggest thing you can do to prevent fires, in my opinion, is sanitation,� Bonhorst emphasizes. “You don’t want any residue from the wheat, corn or soybean harvest in the combine, because that just provides fuel. “And you really need to keep the weather conditions in mind,� he adds. “If

you have low humidity, low moisture in the seeds, a lack of wind,� that’s going to raise the threat level.

Another NSA board member, John Swanson of Mentor, Minn., is a grower in addition to being the sunflower product manager for Croplan Genetics. “In my 40 years in sunflower, I’ve never heard of a fire [when the seeds are] above 11 or 12% moisture unless a bearing went out, or something similar,� Swanson observes. “But when you’re down in that 7-8% range, you’ll have that potential for fires.�

And sometimes being prepared for that possibility isn’t good enough. Swanson says he was at a south central North Dakota farm last fall where the farmer was harvesting seeds at 7%. “They had a water truck in the field and were blowing off the combines every couple hours,� he says. But a fire broke out nonetheless, and by the time they got the water truck over to the combine, it was too late and the implement was destroyed.

Swanson says growers looking at seeds in that 7-8% range may want to consider delaying harvest until evening and nighttime hours. “If it’s below 9%, I’d really consider waiting until you get more humidity in the air,� he suggests. “And, why not get paid for the water that’s in

6XQIORZHU +DUYHVWLQJ $WWDFKPHQW

+DUYHVW ZLWK FRQILGHQFH XVLQJ WKH 6HHG (DWHU 6XQIORZHU +DUYHVWLQJ $WWDFKPHQW ,WV SURYHQ HIILFLHQF\ DQG HIIHFWLYHQHVV KDYH SODFHG LW DW WKH WRS RI LWV FODVV +DYLQJ EHHQ WHVWHG LQ VHYHQ FRXQWULHV WKH GHVLJQ DQG WHFKQRORJ\ KDV PDGH WKLV SURGXFW D VWURQJ DQG GXUDEOH OHDGHU LQ WKH PDUNHW 7KH 6HHG (DWHU LV WKH ILQHVW FKRLFH IRU \RXU KDUYHVWLQJ QHHGV

Ă— +HDY\ GXW\ JDXJH GUXP Ă— +HDY\ GXW\ JDXJH SDQV ZLWK VWURQJ GHVLJQ Ă— 6SHFLDOO\ GHVLJQHG ILQJHUV PRYH VXQIORZHU KHDG JHQWO\ EXW SRVLWLYHO\ WR DXJHU Ă— ([WUD ORQJ GLYLGHUV IRU PRUH SRVLWLYH URZ DOLJQPHQW

0DQXIDFWXUHG LQ -DPHVWRZQ 1RUWK 'DNRWD 86$ 9LVLW 0LGZHVWHUQ 0DFKLQHÂśV ZHEVLWH IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ WKH 6HHG (DWHU

ZZZ VHHG HDWHU FRP

Ă— $OO SDUWV KRW GLSSHG JDOYDQL]HG RU SRZGHU FRDW ILQLVKHG Ă— %ROWV DQG 8 EROWV DUH *UDGH Ă— +HDY\ GXW\ XQLPRXQW V\VWHP DOORZV PRXQWLQJ LQ PLQXWHV Ă—$OO FRPSRQHQWV EROW XS ZLWKRXW GULOOLQJ

:(67 &28175< 352'8&76 ,QF

)RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ FRQWDFW

3+21( 72// )5(( -$0(672:1 1257+ '$.27$ LQIR#ZHVWFRXQWU\SURGXFWV FRP ZZZ ZHVWFRXQWU\SURGXFWV FRP

THEâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SUNFLOWERâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;August/Septemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;2010

19

Causes of Combine & Tractor Fires SDSU Farm Machinery & Safety Specialist Provides Hints on Both Preventing & Responding to Fires During Harvest

N

ationally, combine and tractor fires cause 40-50 serious injuries and more than $20 million in property losses each year.

That’s according to South Dakota Cooperative Extension Farm Machinery & Safety Specialist Dick Nicolai, who said these fires also cost millions of dollars in lost time and downed crops during busy harvest seasons.

“The two keys to preventing a combine fire are to keep the machine clean of possible fire-causing materials and to eliminate all possible sources of heat that could lead to a fire,” Nicolai says.

“Producers should pay special attention to the engine and engine compartment, since about 75% of all machinery fires start in that area.” Farmers can use pressure washers to remove all grease, oil and crop residue. A clean engine will run cooler, operate more efficiently and greatly reduce the chance for fire.

“It’s important to frequently blow any dry chaff, leaves and other material off the machine with compressed air, and to clear off any wrapped plant materials on bearings, belts and other moving parts,” Nicolai adds. “If any fuel or oil hoses, fittings or metal lines are leaking, make sure to replace or repair them immediately.”

When combining sunflower, producers should back the cylinder or rotor speed down or open the concaves more until you start to see some seeds left on the head, Nicolai suggests. Also, keep the header as high as possible to take in the least amount of stalk into the combine. The objective is to reduce the trash in the combine (and the bin) as much as possible.

Nicolai says combine fires stem most often from exhaust system contact with any flammable material. “Make sure your exhaust sys-

tem, including the manifold, muffler and turbocharger, are in good condition and free of leaks,” he advises. “Other heat sources include belts that are slipping and bearings about to fail, so producers should keep an eye out for worn bearings, belts and chains.”

Badly worn bearings may glow red-hot, he notes, and any rubber belt subjected to intense heat from a worn part can burst into flames.

“Exposed electrical wiring that is damaged or deteriorating can also cause fires,” Nicolai continues. “Replace any worn or malfunctioning electrical components with proper parts from your dealer. If you are blowing fuses or have a circuit that intermittently cuts out, it’s a good sign of a short or loose connection in the system. Arcing electrical wires on a farm machine will generate extremely high temperatures.”

Despite producers’ best intentions and good maintenance, a fire on a tractor or combine can still occur. The best source of protection for a combine is at least one fully charged 10-lb. ABC dry-chemical fire extinguisher, according to the SDSU farm safety specialist.

“Only select extinguishers with Underwriters Laboratory approval.

Having two extinguishers on the machine is better, in case one malHaving two fire functions or loses pressure,” extinguishers on the Nicolai remarks. “Keep one mountmachine is better, in ed in the cab, and one where it case one malfunctions can be reached from the ground.”

If a fire does break out on a or loses pressure. machine, quickly shut off the engine, grab an extinguisher, get out and get help. “If you forget to grab the extinguisher, don’t go back for it unless the fire is extremely small or confined to an area well away from the cab,” Nicolai says.

“Have a cellular phone or two-way radio nearby to get professional assistance to the field more quickly.”

Producers are warned to approach any fire with extreme caution, because even small fires can flare up dramatically as doors, hatches or other areas are opened. These types of fires are especially dangerous when liquid fuels are involved.

"If possible, use the extinguisher’s flexible hose to shoot the chemical from a safe distance at the base of any flames,” Nicolai states. “Continue to blanket the flames even after the fire goes down, since this will allow the area to cool and prevent flare-ups.

With a fire in a difficult-to-reach area, or one that seems out of control, don’t risk injury or death. Just wait for help to arrive.”

■

your ’flowers?” he asks, pointing out that the grower “loses” yield by selling any seeds under the market standard of 10%.

While Lauren Russell agrees with the concept behind nighttime harvesting, he says its success will depend at least partly on wind conditions. Last fall, he tried combining ’flowers at night when the temperature had dropped to around freezing.

“We found it didn’t help us much — the reason being that when we got toward dusk, the wind would go down. And the dust would just hang. There was no air movement. So when we came back on the next round, we’d drive into the dust of the previous round — and it would stick on the windshield and sides of the combine.

“So I like the theory, but that wasn’t the answer for us last year.”

Another complicating factor for some growers, Swanson adds, is Sclerotinia. “If you have [a significant amount of]

20

Sclerotinia, there’s just more of that white dust floating around and clinging to machinery,” he notes.

The whole issue points toward the benefits of harvesting early, whenever possible, Swanson concludes. “Maximize your yields by getting out there on a timely basis,” he advises. “And consider using a desiccant to advance the harvest.”

In the final analysis, perhaps the biggest assist in minimizing combine fires this coming fall will come from Mother Nature. More “normal” harvesting conditions should allow many growers to avoid those ultra-low seed moisture levels —and thereby sharply reduce the fire risk.

But, emphasize growers and agronomists alike, that should not translate into complacency. The importance of good housekeeping and continual vigilance should never be underestimated. — Don Lilleboe ■

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

S.D. Growers Convert RowCrop Head for More Capacity A

fter seeding sunflower on 1,000 acres of hailed-out wheat ground in 2008, brothers Jerry and Ross Sperry knew they were looking at a challenging harvest season — especially since they’d already planted another 1,000 acres of ‘flowers earlier that spring. To cover all that ground,

they started searching for a 12-row John Deere row-crop header to replace the eightrow unit they had been using. But that search proved fruitless.

Wanting to stick with a JD row-crop model, the Blunt, S.D., growers then came up with the idea of converting their eight-

Photo: Don Lilleboe

Below: Jerry Sperry with the 12-row head he and brother Ross use on sunflower.

row into a 12-row unit. After buying a used six-row JD head from a neighbor, they contacted Harv’s Farm Supply in Giltner, Neb., a firm that has worked with combine headers for more than three decades, custom building, rebuilding, repairing and converting heads of numerous makes and models.

Taking delivery on a 12-row / 30” unit frame from Harv’s, Jerry and Ross’ son George went to work. “I thought my eightrow head was in good shape until we tore into it,” Jerry quips. “Our neighbor’s sixrow — which hadn’t been used in seven years — was in much better condition.”

The Sperrys replaced the bearings on eight of the row units and replaced the belts on all 12. Some also received new knives.

They then installed their own rear screen and side shields and repainted the customized 12-row header. Jerry estimates their total investment — including the new frame and the six-row purchased header — came to about $20,000. “And as soon as we were done with it, a guy offered me $30,000,” he chuckles. “So I guess we made the right decision.”

Including custom work for neighbors, the Sperrys ran the 12-row header (mounted on their JD 9760 combine) across about 3,000 acres of sunflower in 2008. That year’s crop averaged around 2,500 lbs/ac.

In 2009 they used it on about 1,000 acres, averaging about 2,200 lbs. They expect to cover around 800 acres of ’flowers this coming harvest. — Don Lilleboe ■

SELL YOUR SUNFLOWERS TO CARGILL

NEW!!! Check out www.CargillAg.com 6HH :HVW )DUJR¶V ELGV Call us to see your account online - - -

E-signature available Manage your contracts Get your grades online

Great unloading hours 2 for 1 oil premium over 40% Official grades you can trust We buy directly from the farmer & the elevator Darcy Uhrich, Farmer Origination Merchant Toll Free: 866-414-5356 Email: darcy_uhrich@cargill.com

1 RXULVKLQJ ,GHDV 1 RXULVKLQJ 3HRSOH

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

21

SNP, SNP, SNP Sunflower Sector Initiates High-Tech Breeding Initiative Designed to Help Crank Out New Hybrids Faster Purpose Is to Keep Industry More Competitive

S

ure you do. You know exactly what “SNP” stands for. It’s singlenucleotide polymorphism, right?

OK, so maybe that term is not part of most folks’ everyday vocabulary. But those three letters — SNP — carry huge implications for the future of the sunflower industry.

SNPs (pronounced “snips”) were on hardly anyone’s radar a decade ago. Back then, had you asked even a group of plant scientists what the term meant, most probably would have said it had something to do with getting a haircut.

Today, however, the crop science community and the seed industry know that SNP-related technology holds vital keys to the development of the hybrids that will be planted by farmers in years to come.

SNPs fall into the complex world of DNA, chromosomes, genetic mapping and sequencing — a world that’s basic to animal and plant life, but also one that’s largely unfamiliar to most of us. SNPs are

DNA markers, pieces of DNA located in or near a gene. Knowing the nature and location of markers within a given organism’s chromosome structure allows scientists to determine that organism’s unique DNA sequence pattern. As molecular biologists and plant breeders become more adept at “fingerprinting” an organism’s genetic makeup, they likewise are much more efficient at pinpointing useful traits and plugging those traits into new breeding populations and, eventually, commercial varieties.

Brent Hulke, research geneticist with the USDA-ARS Sunflower Research Unit at Fargo, N.D., uses the analogy of digital camera development to illustrate this concept. Think back to the first generation of digital cameras, he suggests; then compare that with today’s advanced high-resolution digital cameras. “Ten years ago, you could barely get a small photo from a digital camera to appear decent,” Hulke points out. “Now, images from digital cameras

can be blown up to the size of wall murals and still retain their integrity.”

That comparison can be extrapolated into the realms of traditional plant breeding methodology and the new genomic approaches incorporating SNPs. Traditional methods focus on phenotyping — i.e., working through large populations in the lab, the greenhouse and out in the field to visually determine which lines or crosses carry the trait(s) one is seeking.

Crossing and backcrossing through multiple generations is required to get the desired trait(s) into finished lines without dragging along undesired traits.

“SNPs allow for detailed analysis of breeding populations using methods we’ve never used before,” Hulke emphasizes.

“And because of computers, we’ll be able to make this [process] even easier and cheaper in the future.

“Up until now, markers have been pieces of DNA that, in most cases, are not associated directly with [specific] genes,” he continues. “They’re just ‘hooks.’ So it’s kind of like putting a stake next to a rock in a field. You can’t put that stake directly on the rock; but you can place it by the rock. And you just hope the next time you see that stake out in the field, you don’t end up hitting the rock with your tractor.

“But with SNPs, we’re going to a technology that can actually ‘put the stake right through the middle of the rock.’

We’re to the point now where we can easily get SNPs that are actually a part of the gene of interest.”

Hulke uses downy mildew resistance as an example of how SNP technology can really pay dividends. With so many different races of downy mildew and so many different sources of resistance in the sunflower plant world, “putting multiple

How well do you know your seed?

© BioDiagnostics, Inc. 2009. All rights reserved.

Is it high oleic?

22

BDI combines chromatography expertise, USDA based protocol and state-of-the-art equipment to bring you accurate, reproducible data on your seed’s fatty acid composition.

Be assured of your seed’s oleic content before it’s delivered to your elevator — send your samples to be tested at BDI today.

Be sure.

To learn more, visit www.BioDiagnostics.net or call 715-426-0246

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

genes for downy mildew resistance together in the same breeding line is very difficult,” he says. In 2009, for instance, Hulke and ARS plant pathologist Tom Gulya and their team spent about three months just testing and retesting for downy mildew resistance.

“But if we had markers for each downy mildew resistance gene — a marker within the gene itself — we would have a very trustworthy marker that could be used in virtually every breeding application.” The much faster — and more costeffective — procedure could conceivably

reduce the three months of work mentioned earlier down to a week or two, Hulke envisions.

Sclerotinia resistance is another prime area for SNP dividends. Hulke says the ARS group currently has data on 262 diverse lines of sunflower from around the world with varying degrees of Sclerotinia resistance. “If we can tie that very big data set with a very big set of markers — [e.g.,] 10,000 — we would be able to get down nearly to the gene level with markers and possibly find key resistance genes within a full set of 262 lines,” he observes.

“This is unprecedented, because we have been doing it two lines at a time. So we’re going from two to 262.” The bottom line is that such technology would allow scientists to become much more efficient at finding resistance to Sclerotinia and incorporating it into commercial sunflower hybrids.

T

here’s much more scope and detail to the SNP/sunflower story, of course.

The ultimate goal of those entities and individuals involved is to keep sunflower profitable for growers — which in turn

FACT: 0U 7HUUHY Z\UÅV^LYZ ^LYL [OL [VW [^V [YPHS WLYMVYTLYZ H[ [OL 5+:< *HYYPUN[VU 9LZLHYJO

,_[LUZPVU *LU[LY

FACT: ;OL K`UHTPJZ VM V\Y ]HZ[ NLUL[PJ Z[VJR HUK [LZ[ [YPHSZ HJYVZZ [OL +HRV[HZ HUK [OL ^VYSK YLZ\S[ PU H 7HUUHY Z\UÅV^LY WHJRHNL VM JVUZPZ[LUJ` `PLSK HUK KPZLHZL YLZPZ[HUJL

SUNSHINE IN YOUR WALLET. 7HUUHY Z\UÅV^LYZ ^PSS HKK H SP[[SL Z\UZOPUL [V `V\Y ^HSSL[ H[ OHY]LZ[PTL )VSZ[LYLK I` [OL JSV\[ VM V\Y WV^LYM\S IYLLKPUN WYVNYHT V\Y KLMLUZP]L Z\UÅV^LY WHJRHNLZ WYVK\JL [OL \S[PTH[L ]HS\L MVY MHYTLYZ! YIELD >P[O YLZLHYJO KYP]LU WVZP[PVUPUN ^L HYL ZWLJPHSPZ[Z H[ WYV]PKPUN ZLLK [OH[ ^PSS TH_PTPaL ÄLSK WYVK\J[P]P[` PU 4PUULZV[H 5VY[O +HRV[H HUK :V\[O +HRV[H

pannarusa.com | 866-PANNAR1 THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

23

keeps the overall industry viable and healthy.

That objective is taking on an added urgency due to other crops already utilizing such technology. That’s making such crops more competitive — which then threatens sunflower’s acreage base and potential growth as an industry.

“Over the past couple years, there has been a lot of discussion about how other crops are able to bring [desired] traits to the market a lot faster than we can in sunflower,” notes Steve Kent, president of Seeds 2000 and current chairman of the National Sunflower Association Research

‘It’s amazing that in a few short months, our industry not only recognized the importance of developing this technology, but is also doing something about it.’

Committee. “As an industry, it became more urgent when seed corn companies recently announced they will be introducing drought-tolerant corn varieties into the

Cash green.

Dahlgren is now buying open market confection and oil dehull sunflowers.

Trust Dahlgren to put profit in your pocket.

www.dahlgrensunflower.com Delivery locations: Crookston MN, Grace City ND, Fargo ND, Ipswich SD

24

Tim Petry or Bill Sullivan Crookston 800.837.5984

Kent Johnson Grace City 877.674.3179

marketplace in the very near future.”

Why is that development so important to the sunflower sector? “Sunflower has long been known as a drought-tolerant crop,” Kent points out. “One of the threats we see from crops like drought-tolerant corn would be those crops moving into our main production areas.”

Sunflower seed companies and other industry leaders “realized we cannot continue to ‘plod along’ at the rate we have been,” Kent notes. “Not that we haven’t made progress; we have. But we need to progress faster.”

In March, the National Sunflower Association Board of Directors heard recommendations from its research committee on projects for funding. The board also invited a presentation by representatives from BioDiagnostics, Inc., a River Falls, Wis.-based company that focuses on the development of DNA-based diagnostic services for the seed industry. The NSA board then voted to immediately allocate $100,000 to initiate research aimed at facilitating marker-assisted breeding in sunflower.

Within a week, the NSA Research Committee had assembled a group of public and private breeders to put the project in motion. The first priority, Kent reports, “was to identify six sunflower breeding lines that had a great diversity in their genetic background, to begin the initial sequencing of those lines as the first step in the marker-assisted development.” That process is underway.

The next step, Kent explains, “is to develop a higher-throughput technology that allows marker-assisted breeding to be cost-effective.” Doing so required a commitment of 960 breeding lines from the public and private sectors “in order to raise enough money and to match up with the number of lines that can be done in a batch.” This large number of lines will also allow sunflower scientists to find and use the most-informative markers in future studies.

Part of the $100,000 NSA allocation went toward the first phase (sequencing).

The second phase of fingerprinting is much more expensive, requiring $250,000.

That pot of money was put together quickly, with some funds coming from the NSA and USDA. The rest of this round of funding is coming from several sunflower seed companies — each of which has committed a minimum of 100 lines and $25,000 to the program.

“It’s amazing that in a few short months, our industry not only recognized the importance of developing this technology, but is also doing something about it,” Kent concludes.

“We are moving in the right direction.”

— Don Lilleboe ■

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

It’s That (Blackbird) Time of the Year Help Is Available to Affected Growers Through USDA Wildlife Services Program

H

ands-on assistance from USDA to growers experiencing blackbird problems is available for the 2010 season.

The National Sunflower Association has been working with U.S. senators from the Dakotas and Minnesota to ensure funding for this important program. The funding allows USDA’s Wildlife Services to place parttime employees in multi-county districts throughout the production region that is most vulnerable to bird damage.

(See the accompanying map.)

Propane cannons with automatic timers are provided on loan to growers, and pyrotechnics may be provided as well, depending upon the situation. The USDA personnel will assist in placing the cannons in key areas around the field, based on their best experience.

Phil Mastrangelo, USDA Wildlife Service state director in Bismarck, N.D., manages the program and states that the effectiveness of cannons can be enhanced when elevated on a platform or trailer.

“Moving the cannons every three days will be helpful as well, so if they are on a trailer, it makes that process much easier for the grower,” Mastrangelo says. Periodic

use of live ammunition in the field will greatly enhance the cannons as well.

“Federal and state law allow producers to shoot birds that are damaging crops; the addition of lethal control reinforces the effect of any of the frightening devices”.

Mastrangelo reminds producers that there are two types of blackbird popula-

Contact Persons in Regions for Blackbird Assistance A: Mark Monti - Berthold, ND - 701-390-3715 B: Sherwood Haakenson - WillowCity, ND - 701-390-3964 C: Nat Bornsen - Larimore, ND - 701-425-1876 D: Glen Baltrusch - Harvey, ND - 701-390-3714 E: Mel Fortner - Hazelton, ND - 701-425-2011 F: Rod O’Clair - Jamestown, ND - 701-390-4001 G: Ron Gore - Finley, ND - 701-425-1487 H: Joel Lyons - McLeod, ND - 701-439-2022 I: Pete Sahr - Minnesota - 218-327-3350 Contact the Wildlife Services office in Bismarck (701-250-4405) if the cell phone numbers cannot be reached. All other areas in South Dakota Tim Pugh at (605-224-8692)

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

tions. The early damage comes from what are called “local” birds comprised of local breeding birds and young hatched birds.

All these birds are missing wing feathers because of their annual molt. Most of their damage occurs during early petal drop into mid-September. These flocks are usually small but difficult to move because of their inability to fly longer distances. The objective with this population is to move them through harassment to other feeding sources such as small grain stubble. This is where the cannons and periodic shooting can be most successful.

The other population consists of the “migrators,” which begin to form larger flocks for their southern movement. That usually happens around mid-September or when a distinct weather shift occurs. The migrators are easier to move, but their flock numbers can be considerable.

Substantial damage can occur when a large flock settles into a field.

Mastrangelo will deal with these larger flocks by sending in multiple personnel to harass the birds. “We station one or two persons in the sunflower field and another one or more persons near the wetland,” he explains. “In this way, the birds are harassed in their preferred feeding locations and roosting wetlands and usually decide to move on.”

T

he key to making this program work, Mastrangelo emphasizes, is for the farmer and his USDA contact to form a partnership and be in close communication. “If the grower is all of a sudden getting hit with huge bird numbers, we need to know that as soon as possible in order to redirect personnel.” He adds that working with the grower, the USDA personnel want to identify wetlands that have lots of cattails and are a great roosting area for blackbirds. “We want to eliminate those cattails through our cattail spraying program. That is one of the best long-term solutions,” says Mastrangelo.

Dr. George Linz of the USDA National Wildlife Research Center says that repellents have their place as well. “We have tested a number of repellents with mixed results — which is not uncommon due to variables of rainfall, temperature and bird behavior, Linz says. He recommends using them if the grower finds that they work.

Linz’s group is field testing a compound that appears to have good potential.

That testing is being conducted in netted cages to determine rates and residue.

Linz adds that more chemical companies are looking at the bird repellent market. “It is a large untapped market,” he notes. “Many berry, vine and fruit crops get hit hard by bird depredation. These are high-value crops, and netting is usually not economical.” — Larry Kleingartner ■

25

The Cost of

Moisture Shrink Formulas Help Calculate Moisture Shrink Factor & Seed Weight Loss (or Gain) at Various Moisture Levels

S

hrinkage is a desirable development when it involves your waistline. But when it brings the moisture of your market-bound sunflower seeds down below 10%, it’s costing you money.

Sunflower producers know that harvesting their crop at moisture levels below 10% can be detrimental in at least three ways. First, it likely will result in more shattering and seed loss at the header.

Second, if low enough (7-8%), it will increase the risk of combine fires. And third, a low-moisture crop will weigh less than a 10% or higher one, meaning fewer dollars at the marketplace.

It’s thus another reason, too, not to overdry seeds beyond what is prudent for

short- or long-term storage, depending on your market timing intentions.* Some shrinkage takes place at the elevator or other delivery site. Foreign material aside, there inevitably is a certain amount of handling loss (spillage, dust blowing off the piles, etc.). These are items over which the producer has no control, and they’ll vary from site to site. The ________________________

* Ken Hellevang points out that though the market moisture content is 10%, oil sunflower seed will need to be at 8% moisture content to safely store through summer. Storing 10% sunflower during the summer would be similar to storing 15% moisture wheat.

E A L EESTATE S T A T E & EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT A U C T I O N RREAL www.maascompanies.com w ww.maascomp w maascomppanies.com panies com Tuesday, October 12 – 11 am • Culbertson, Montana

Oilseed Storage & Processing Facility & Partially Completed Expansion

77,629 Sq. Ft. on 50± Acres

300 Tons/Day Capacity • 1.1 Million Bushel Storage • 2.2 Million Gallon Oil Storage INSPECTIONS: September 24 & October 11 • 12 – 4 PM 10% Buyer Premium. Selling AS-IS, WHERE-IS. See Bidder Kit for Complete Details. Buyer is responsible for all removal costs.

507.285.1444

www.maascompanies.com w ww.maascompanies.com

26

®

elevator typically factors in such shrinkage into its handling charges.

But then there is “moisture shrink.”

This term refers to the weight loss in grain resulting from the drying of that grain down to a particular moisture content.

Moisture shrink is a straightforward number, points out North Dakota State University extension ag engineer Ken Hellevang. “We have an equation that tells us that if we remove a given quantity of water from our grain — be it sunflower, wheat or corn — we’ll have a certain weight loss associated with it. That weight loss is what we call ‘moisture shrink,’ ” he notes.

Table 1 on the following page shows the percentage reduction in weight — a constant value — based upon the final moisture content of the grain. Table 2 indicates the actual pounds one loses (or gains) at crop moistures below and above 10%.

“If working with sunflower, whose market standard is 10% moisture, the shrink is going to be 1.111% for every point of moisture removal,” Hellevang points out. “If we take off five percentage points, we know our shrink will total 5.555%.” So drying 100 pounds of sunflower seed at 15% moisture down to 10% would result in a cumulative moisture shrink loss of 5.56 pounds, for a net seed weight of 94.44 pounds.

Hellevang advises producers to familiarize themselves — in advance of harvest — with their elevator’s shrink and other discount policies. And remember, he says, that while moisture discount schedules can vary from elevator to elevator (and also from date to date at the same facility), “moisture shrink” is a constant value. — Don Lilleboe ■

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

Table 1. Moisture Shrink Factors for Drying Grain to Various Moisture Levels Final Moisture Content (%)

Moisture Shrink Factor

15.0 14.5 14.0 13.5 13.0 12.5 12.0 11.5 11.0 10.5 10.0 9.5 9.0 8.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.0 5.0

1.1765 1.1696 1.1628 1.1561 1.1494 1.1429 1.1364 1.1299 1.1236 1.1173 1.1111 1.1050 1.0989 1.0929 1.0870 1.0811 1.0753 1.0638 1.0526

(% Shrink Per Point of Moisture Removed)

Kansas Checkoff Rate Hiked The voluntary assessment paid by producers for sunflower sold in Kansas will increase starting September 1, 2010. In April of this year, the eight-member Kansas Sunflower Commission (KSC) voted to increase the checkoff from 3.0 to 5.0 cents/cwt. The assessment rate has been 3.0 cents since inception of the commission in 2002. Kansas law gives the commission authority to assess up to 6.0 cents/cwt. The law also provides that producers who wish to receive a refund of the assessment may

simply provide evidence of the assessment charges within one year of sale.

Voluntary checkoff dollars are used for promotion of the commodity and its products as well as research on variety of issue related to sunflower production. “We really need to help our Kansas producers find some solutions to the barriers on sunflower production, particularly weed control,” says Karl Esping, commission chair.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture will be sending notification, new paperwork and forms to all first purchasers around the state prior to this year’s harvest.

■

Available in 12, 16 & 18 row 20” spacing and 8 & 12 row 30” spacing to fit most combines

Harvest 6 – 30% more crop from the same field!

High Capacity Sunflower, Corn, & Milo Harvesting Attachment Ask for a free DVD with footage of the Sunmaster harvesting in downed sunflowers.

Table 2. Weight of Sunflower At Various Moisture Contents, Compared to Market Standard Moisture Content

Seed Weight

(%)

(Cwt. Basis)

5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 10.5 11.0 11.5 12.0 12.5 13.0 13.5 14.0 14.5 15.0

95.24 95.74 96.26 96.78 97.30 97.83 98.36 98.90 99.45 100.00 100.56 101.12 101.69 102.28 102.86 103.46 104.05 104.66 105.26 105.89

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

Significantly reduce shattering losses.

Vibrating catch pans float any seeds to platform.

Superior choice for lodged or excessively dry sunflowers. Top of pan helps push stalks in direction of feeder housing.

Excellent in corn. Better trash management improves next Spring’s planting & weed control.

"Our 12 row – 20" Sunmaster header cuts anything from solid seeded sunflowers through 30" corn rows very well. It has paid for itself salvaging 2000 acres of severely lodged crops" Todd Goven Turtle Lake, ND

Unique design picks up downed milo, but leaves taller standing stubble.

Excellent row feeding with rotating knives installed behind gathering chain.

One gathering chain per row eliminates half of the moving parts and results in less maintenance.

Extra length row dividers with replaceable shoe.

701 Lenham Ave SW / PO Box 647 Cooperstown ND 58425 (800) 797-1883 or (701) 797-2700 www.sheyennemfg.com

27

Spitt in’ Mad Artist: Marcella Rose

Over Sunflower Seed Ban

By Pat Sangimino Editor’s Note: This column by Pat Sangimino appeared in a late July issue of the Hutchinson News, Hutchinson, Kan. It is reprinted here with permission. Needless to say, our vote goes in favor of keeping sunflower seeds at the ballpark . . .

B

ack long ago — about two weeks, to be exact, which is an eternity in baseball terms — when the Hutchinson Monarchs were in the midst of their well-documented offensive funk, a couple of players took drastic measures to end the slump.

“They took dirt dips,” said former Hutch Blue Dragon pitcher Zach Biery, who told the tale, but spared himself what promised to be a terrible predicament by choosing to protect the identities of the teammates involved.

I wanted names. I wanted the dirt. Figuratively speaking, of course. But he wasn’t budging. So I him asked to explain what the heck a dirt dip was.

“To start a rally, they grabbed a little pinch of dirt and put it between their cheek and gum,” he said about as matter-of-factly as he was capable of doing without crinkling his face into the look that told just how disgusting this act really was.

Whatever it takes to awaken the bats, right?

Two weeks later, all is well. The Monarchs busted out of their funk — 35 runs in the four games (all victories) of the NBC qualifier this week at Hobart-Detter Field is a pretty good indicator of that — and while no one is crediting the dirt dips for the dramatic turnaround, there has been no mud-slinging (get it?) to refute the practice’s slump-busting capabilities, either.

Let's just file this one under “D” for drastic times call for drastic measures.

It was a last-ditch effort that couldn’t have come at a better time. The Monarchs have qualified for the National Baseball Congress World Series, which begins Friday. The unfortunate part of it all is that Lawrence-Dumont Stadium — the hallowed ground to the baseball tournament that boasts a historic past with former players like Bonds, Pujols and Clemens — is a place where spitting is strictly prohibited.

In fact, it markets itself — through countless public-address announcements — as a “tobacco-free, sunflower seed-free stadium,” not just on the playing field, but in the stands, too.

No dirt dips.

No chewing tobacco.

And above all, no sunflower seeds.

W

elcome to the new generation of baseball, a sport that cut its collective teeth on the art of spitting. What”s next? No scratching? No crotch adjustments? Why not just take their gloves

28

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

and bats away and call it soccer.

Actually, the tobacco rule makes sense.

Lawrence-Dumont is a city-owned stadium and with a statewide smoking ban in place, it seems fair that the smokeless tobacco users should have to suffer, too. It’s probably good for business — even if it doesn't show in the Wichita Wingnuts' attendance figures. You wouldn’t want to be watching a ballgame, munching a hot dog while the guy next to you was creating a nasty brown puddle in your vicinity.

“I always bring a cup to spit in when I'm watching a game in the stands,” Biery said.

But what happens to that cup once it's filled? ’Nuff said.

The moratorium on sunflower seeds makes less sense — at least in the grandstand. While there is a ban on sunflower seeds, venders hawk peanuts throughout the stadium. Do the math and you'll find that peanut shells, bigger in mass and containing that messy brown skin, create far more waste than sunflower seeds, which are much smaller in size.

It should also be noted that banning sunflower seeds in the Sunflower State seems wrong.

As more ballparks go to artificial turf, sunflower seeds have become a field-maintenance nightmare. There is a company in nearby Harper that created a riding vacuum cleaner that it has sold to a number of Major League ballparks, Yankee Stadium included, but it is expensive — probably way out of the budget of most minor-league and college teams.

Sunflower seeds are prohibited at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., too. But somehow sunflower seeds find their way to the field. Darn visiting teams.

It then becomes the postgame job of the freshmen on the baseball team to pick the shells out of the turf — one by one.

"It's a bad job," said Monarchs designated hitter Stephen Gandy, who turned 20 yesterday and will be a sophomore at Northwestern in the fall, meaning his days of picking up seeds are behind him.

"Freshmen have to do it. It's a pain. I understand why (sunflower seeds) are not allowed."

nation's largest producer of sunflower seeds, is a proud sponsor of Major League Baseball. Walk into any big-league clubhouse and there are packs of seeds everywhere.

Another sunflower seed company has named itself by its appropriate baseball name — Spitz.

Ballplayers have grown up with them.

"I go through stages where I chew sunflower seeds," said Monarchs first baseman Andy Petz, a senior-to-be at Washburn University. "Right now, I'm at a stage where I am not doing seeds when I play."

That said, he will adjust. So will most players.

Maybe the bigger issue this week at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium might be how to enforce the no-spit rule. After all, there are times when the guys hired to enforce the rules are the biggest culprits.

"Nobody really hides it out there," Biery said. "You'll see umpires chewing a big wad of tobacco in a game. It's not something that is enforced. Players are going to try to get away with as much as they can in a game."

Oh well. Spit happens.

■

Setting the Standard for Sunflowers Innovative producer marketing programs World’s largest confection sunflower processor Our exclusive contracting program is designed with your success in mind.

CHS is a competitive buyer of large confection and oil sunflowers, as well as white proso millet and other small grains.

Contact us today.

701.484.5313 chssunflower.com

A

ll cleanup aside, baseball without sunflower seeds is lacking. You've heard of the soap scrimmage before football season - get in free if you bring a bar of soap, which will be used throughout the season by the team - one high school baseball team in eastern Kansas had its annual Spit Scrimmage. Admittance is free if you donated a bag of sunflower seeds.

Anyone who has ever played knows that the back pocket of a pair of baseball pants has no other purpose than for storage of a handful of seeds. The David Co., the

© 2009 CHS Inc

THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010chs2631_SunflowerAd_US.indd

1

29

11/10/09 12:41:58 PM

The Sunflower Marks 35 Years!

T

he Sunflower is 35 years old! Volume 1 Number 1 of this magazine rolled off the press in August 1975. Its publisher was the newly formed Sunflower Association of America (SAA), the predecessor organization to the National Sunflower Association (NSA).

The Sunflower itself was preceded by The National Sunflower Grower, a monthly one-color magazine (printed on yellow paper) published by the National Sunflower Growers Association (NSGA).

Based at Northwood, N.D., NSGA was a membership-based group formed in 1968 and led by longtime sunflower producer (and later SAA and NSA board member) Marvin Klevberg.

The first issue of The National Sunflower Grower, edited by Page, N.D., area producer Bill Conrad, came out in February 1974.

The final issue was July 1975. In it, Marv Klevberg wrote that the sunflower publication transition over to the SAA and The Sunflower was to everyone’s benefit. He noted that the new fullcolor magazine would open the door for more feature articles and enhanced opportunities for advertisers. The SAA, he wrote, “represents growers, industry, processors, exporters, seedsmen, researchers, etc., and will give it the financial and informational support required to make it a better and bigger magazine.” While The National Sunflower Grower had a circulation of around 3,000, the first issue of The Sunflower numbered 10,000 — with projections up to 15,000. (About 29,500 copies were printed of this August/ September 2010 issue of The Sunflower.)

The SAA was more of an industry-wide organization. Its membership included seed companies, elevators, seed exporters, the growers’ group, confection processors, oilseed crushers and other entities with a direct stake in the burgeoning industry. The SAA’s first president was Ralph Taylor, president of Dahlgren & Company, based at Crookston, Minn.

I

n his column in The Sunflower’s first issue, Taylor noted that the “idea for the formation of the Sunflower Association of America was first brought about by the advent of the Contarinia Schulzi (Sunflower Midge), which I am sure we all remember as being a severe problem in the sunflower growing area a few years back.

This effectively brought together all interest[s] of the sunflower

industry in trying to conquer this insect pest. Since that time, there have been periodic meetings and some research sponsorship by the group in order to promote and expand the acreage and market for sunflowers."

The intended purpose of The Sunflower, Taylor added, was to “provide a vehicle for the dessemination (sic) of information, a place for commercial companies to display their wares and new innovations through advertising, and a place for researchers to report their findings and make them available to the sunflower interest.”

Articles in that August 1975 issue of The Sunflower included: • “Bees & Sunflower” — A summary of the importance of bees in sunflower pollination, provided by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

• “Task Force and Field Day” — A report on sunflower research and industry developments in the Texas Panhandle.

• “Working Conference on Research” — A discussion of a national food and agriculture conference in Kansas City at which sunflower was one of the featured crops.

• “Sunflowers, Margarine, Health” — An overview of sunflower oil’s use in margarines and the related health benefits.

• “Plains Cooperative Oil Mill” — A feature on the Texas cottonseed crusher that was contracting for sunflower production and crushing the seeds at its Lubbock mill.

• “Agricomments” — A synopsis of sunflower seed and oil markets, by Agricom International’s Joe Smith.

• “Estimated Production Cost for Sunflowers” — An NDSU report pegged total direct costs at $44.77 per acre, plus fixed costs of $57.06, for total of $101.83.

• “SAA Committee Reports” — From chairmen of the SAA’s research, grades/standards, publication and finance committees.

• “Paraquat Cleared for Oil Use Sunflowers” — Desiccant receives label for use on oil-type sunflower seeds.

• “New Sunflower Publication Available” — NDSU issues first edition of its popular Extension Bulletin 25, Sunflower Production, Pests and Marketing. (Updated editions have been published in 1978, 1985, 1994 and 2007.)

■

Grow Your Money With Help From

FREE 30-Day Trial!

Send e-mail request to mike@themoneyfarm.com

— A Full-Service Commodity Broker — 1630 1st Ave. S. Casselton, ND 58012 www.themoneyfarm.com 30

Contact Mike Krueger TODAY!

Phone: 877-877-7810 or 701-347-5985 Fax: 701-347-4385 E-Mail: mike@themoneyfarm.com THE SUNFLOWER August/September 2010

Artichoke Sunflower Dip

Sunflower Recipes For Additional Recipes, Visit www.sunflowernsa.com Click on ‘Health & Nutrition’

Sunflower Cheese Balls 4 ounces Muenster cheese, room temp.

4 ounces cream cheese, room temp.

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1/4 teaspoon paprika 1/8 teaspoon red pepper 2/3 cup roasted, salted sunflower kernels Combine cheeses, blend thoroughly.

(Use food processor, if possible.) Add Worcestershire sauce, paprika and red pepper; blend. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Roll in sunflower kernels immediately. Refrigerate cheese balls 2 hours. Serve with wholegrain crackers, bread sticks or miniature bread slices. Makes 25 cheese balls.

Sunflower, Cranberry & Oat Granola Bars 1 1/2 cups quick rolled oats 3/4 cup sunflower kernel, roasted and salted 1/2 cup coconut 1/2 cup cranberries, dried, sweetened 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/3 cup sunflower margarine 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/3 cup honey Preheat oven to 350º F. In bowl, stir together rolled oats, sunflower kernel, coconut, cranberries, wheat germ, whole-wheat flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside. Melt margarine; stir brown sugar and honey into melted margarine; bring to a boil; remove from heat. Pour margarine mixture over rolled oats mixture; stir until well coated. Press granola bar mixture into greased 8-x 8-x 2inch square baking pan. Sprinkle with additional sunflower kernel and coconut if desired.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until slightly browned around edges; remove from oven. While bars are warm, press surface gently with back of spoon to flatten; score into bars with knife. Cool completely; cut and serve. Makes 24 bars.

Per Serving — calories, 102; protein, 2 g; carbohydrates, 15 g; fiber, 1 g; fat, 4 g; cholesterol, 0; sodium, 46 mg

Great party fare served with baked chips or crackers and yet hearty enough for a pita sandwich filling.

1-15 ounce can cannelloni or other white beans, rinsed and drained 2-3 garlic cloves 1-15 ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped 1/3 cup reduced fat mayonnaise 1-2 ounce jar diced pimentos 1/4 teaspoon salt juice of one lemon or lime 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 1/2 cup roasted and salted sunflower kernels Puree beans and garlic in a food processor; empty into a mixing bowl. Stir in artichoke hearts, mayonnaise, pimentos, salt and lemon juice. Turn into a Pyrex pie pan and sprinkle with cheese and sunflower kernels.

Broil 4-6 inches from heat for 5-7 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown. Serve warm with crackers, pita or toasted bread.

Makes 22 servings of 3 tablespoons Per Serving — calories, 75; total fat, 3.8 g; carbohydrate, 7 g; saturated fat, 0.3 g; dietary fiber, 0; cholesterol, 4.5 mg; protein, 3.4 g; sodium, 168 mg; calcium, 43 mg

Sunshines Dough — 17 1/2 oz finished puff pastry 5 1/3 oz lightly roasted crushed sunflower kernels Wash — 2 egg yolks 3 1/2 oz sunflower kernels 1 3/4 oz sesame seeds or poppy seeds or a mixture of both Preheat oven to 400° F. Roll out the puff pastry dough to a thickness of 1-1/2 inches, incorporating sunflower kernels. Roll the dough out to 7 inches long. Brush top of the dough with egg yolk and sprinkle with sunflower kernels.

Turn dough over and brush with egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cut into 1-inch thick strips and twist the strips.

Place on a baking sheet and bake until golden for 15 to 18 minutes.

Yields 35 pieces.

Caramelized Sunflower Kernels Double or triple this little recipe and keep these yummy treats on hand. Keep them at room temperature in a tightly sealed container and crunch away at will!

1/3 cup raw sunflower seed kernels 2 tablespoons brown sugar Heat sunflower kernels in a non-stick skillet about 3 minutes over medium-high heat. Stir in the brown sugar, stirring constantly until melted and kernels are coated. Turn out onto waxed paper to cool. Use as a snack or sprinkle on salads, fruit, or sweet potatoes.

Makes 4 servings.

Per Serving — calories, 94; total fat, 6 g; carbohydrate, 9 g; saturated fat, <1 g; dietary fiber, 1 g; cholesterol, 0; Protein, 3 g; Sodium, 3 mg; calcium, 16 mg

The Biggest News Under The Sun Maximize your investment with Pioneer® brand sunflower hybrid 63N82 with the DuPont™ ExpressSun® trait. It’s a non-transgenic gene which provides tolerance to postemergence applications of DuPont™ Express® herbicide with TotalSol® soluble granules. Use it for post control of problem weeds including: Q Wild mustard Q Redroot pigweed Q Canada thistle

Q Common lambsquarters Q Tansy mustard

63N82 offers yield potential and agronomic traits similar to Pioneer® hybrid 63M80, a mid-oleic hybrid that meets NuSun® oil standards.

To learn more about Pioneer sunflower hybrids and the ExpressSun trait, contact your Pioneer sales professional or visit www.pioneer.com/sunflower Always read and follow all label directions and precautions for use.

The DuPont Oval, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Express®, ExpressSun® and TotalSol® are trademarks or registered trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates. ®

NuSun is a registered certification mark of the National Sunflower Association.

, TM, SM Trademarks and service marks of Pioneer Hi-Bred.

All purchases are subject to the terms of labeling and purchase documents. © 2009 PHII SUNFL017841P308AVA

®