Sunflower Trials to Continue
At the AGM of the United Kingdom Sunflower Association held on the 16th January it was agreed that replicated variety trials of the crop must continue. Members felt that the ever growing reality of global warming would increase the potential of the crop within the UK. The low nitrogen requirement of the crop makes it favourable at a time when artificial nitrogen use is being carefully scrutinised. Also, the increasing demand for food oils, given the onset of biodiesel and an ever increasing world population, gives the crop a bright future.
The members of the Association, although small in number, were still enthusiastic about the crop. Brian Fletcher of Seed Services reported an increase in the number of growers, with one having in excess of 150 acres. There had been some very good results from the 2006 harvest with good growers reporting yields of 2.5 tonnes per ha.
The cost of holding trials was significant and Association Treasurer, Valerie Church, proposed an increase in the membership subscription to cover the cost of the trials. The seed trade members present at the meeting were very keen that the trials continued and supported a recommendation to increase the subscription.
Simon Kightley of NIAB reported that due to difficult weather and soil conditions at establishment, the 2006 trial was not uniform enough to get any meaningful yield data to add to the data produced in previous years. He said that NIAB would be able to host the trials in 2007 and hoped for improved results.
The Chairman, Richard Brown, reported that the Association website, which had been created in the last year with the help of Nigel Padbury and his team at Syngenta, was a great promotional tool. He encouraged everyone to make the web site the focal point of the efforts to promote the crop (www.sunflower-association.co.uk).
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