Before considering which hybrids to use next season, growers need to determine which market they want to participate in, according to Bruce Due, District Agronomist for Mycogen Seeds.

The increasing awareness of healthy oils in the diet may shift some growers' decisions on which markets to get into, Due says. "Growers who contract into the oleic oil market, must be sure to use proven hybrids that make the required oil grade for that market. This helps ensure that growers capture the premiums associated with the contract. For growers relying on the open market, there are a wide range of hybrids from which to select that carry many different end-market intended uses," he explains.

The oil market is demanding higher quality oils. NuSun™ and high-oleic sunflower oils are able to fill that demand. Many major food processors plan to make or have already made the switch to these stable, healthier oils containing low saturated fat levels, Due explains. In addition, these oils don't have to be processed or hydrogenated to be used in many food applications, which will create large demands for these types of sunflower oils.

When deciding which segment to participate in, growers should focus on net income. "Growers need to ask themselves what product can they grow on their farm that will provide them with the greatest net income per acre," Due says.

This means that growers not only need total yield, but oil type and content as well. Oil content is particularly important when participating in the oil markets. Processors pay a 2 percent premium in price for each percent in oil content over 40 percent.

"In 2005, Mycogen Seeds will be introducing hybrids with traits that have the ability to produce up to 50 percent or more oil content," Due mentions. "This will help growers earn up to 20 percent premium on their crop."

The hulling market also has specific products that work well in the industry. "Mycogen Seeds 8D310 is an example of a product designed specifically with that market in mind," Due says. "The confection market has also developed specialty products for in-shell use and for hulling purposes."

The bird food market continues to be a steady, growing market as well. More people are enjoying the pastime of bird watching. To attract the birds to their back yards, people are feeding them sunflowers.

"This market is now demanding high-quality sunflowers as wholesalers and end buyers are more discriminate in their buying decisions," Due concludes. "Some hybrids work better for this process than others. Products like Mycogen Seeds SF270 fit this market exceptionally well, while keeping the other markets of hulling and conventional oil sales open also."

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©2005 Mycogen Seeds. Mycogen Seeds is a retail seed brand from Dow AgroSciences LLC.