Farmers consider sunflowers as alternative Missouri crop

Area agricultural officials will discuss today expanding the list of Missouri's alternative crops to include sunflowers in order to take advantage of in-state birdseed markets.

"The informational meeting will cover opportunities for sunflowers and other birdseed crops," said Gerald Bryan, an agronomist with the Cape Girardeau County Extension Service, located at Jackson, Mo.

The meeting is set for noon today at the Country Kettle Restaurant, Exit 123 of Interstate 55, about seven miles south of Perryville.

Dave Danker, a representative with Buchheit Inc., and Dr. Rob Myers, a director of the Jefferson Agricultural Institute, a non-profit ag education center at Columbia, Mo., will speak at the meeting.

Myers, an adjunct professor of agronomy with the University of Missouri, will provide a short presentation on how to grow sunflowers and will talk about the current market and economic situation with sunflowers. Sunflowers are eligible for loan deficiency payments, and a large number of hybrid varieties are available through major seed companies. Myers also will briefly cover other birdseed crop options, such as pearl millet.

Danker will discuss his company's plans for buying sunflowers this season. He will explain Buchheit's pricing and delivery requirements for birdseed sunflowers to the company's elevator facility at Perryville, Mo.

Buchheit Inc., a chain of area farm and general merchandise stores, would like to see more area farmers raise sunflowers as an alternative crop.

"We've developed a market for birdseed from Southeast Missouri," said Matthew Skaggs, a Buchheit's representative. "And we're encouraging farmers to grow more sunflowers."

Buchheit purchased more than three million pounds of sunflowers last year. The company, founded in 1934, now has locations at Jackson, Biehle, Perryville and Herculaneum in Missouri, and Jacksonville and Sparta in Illinois, and they sell sunflower birdseed at all locations.

"We package the seeds in 25 and 50-pound bags," said Skaggs. "We sell from our stores and wholesale birdseed to other areas."

Other possible marketing opportunities for sunflowers will be covered as well. There also has been talk of building a sunflower processing plant in Southeast Missouri, according to Bryan. Some sunflower oils can be used for cooking.

Sunflower acreage has been increasing in Southeast Missouri based on local marketing options and competitive profit potential.

At one time, about 20,000 acres were grown in Missouri, but this acreage has decreased. Acreage of sunflowers in Missouri is expected to increase in the future as more farmers grow the crop for in-state birdseed markets.

Another meeting will take place at Charleston. That meeting will be held Friday at 8 a.m. at the Russell Cafe.