Alternative Grain Crops: Sunflower Seed
Sunflower Seed: Organic sunflower seed is used in bird feed, for sunflower oil and the meal for livestock feed. Sunflowers are a summer annual crop that can be managed similar to other summer grain crops. The links from this page lead to production information for sunflower seed, though not necessarily organic sunflower seed production. There is no information available on organic sunflower production in North Carolina, so adjustments to the management systems recommended must be made to fit in a certified organic operation.
Resources for Sunflower Seed Production:
Sunflower - Helianthus annuus (Minnesota Dept of Agriculture)
Sunflower: a native oilseed with growing markets (Thomas Jefferson institute)
Sunflower Production and Management (Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives)
Growing and Marketing Pesticide Free Sunflower Seeds (University of Manitoba)
