Growing with San Juan Bioenergy

Dryland Production

Sunflower is an excellent crop to boost growers’ dryland production bottom line. Despite low rainfall and winter time snow moisture in 2006 and 2007, sunflower continued to outperform wheat and beans as it did in the much stronger moisture year of 2005. Crop budgeting analysis and these three years of crop results in the Four Corners area show that sunflower is an excellent option to include in many dryland rotations. Sunflower also has generally low variable costs (often just three passes – plant, cultivate, and harvest), can be grown irrigated with less water than most other crops and still obtain competitive yields, and is tolerant of alkaline and sandy soils.

Crop	Yield	Basis	Price	Gross
Sunflower	900 lbs/acre	Aug ‘08 offer	20.0¢/lb	$180.00
Wheat	16.5 bu/acre	May ‘08 price	$8.10/bu	$134.00
Beans	500 lbs/acre	May ‘08 price	33¢/lb	$165.00

 

Irrigated Production

Sunflower and canola make good rotation crops for alfalfa hay and other grasses. When its time to tear out a stand of hay past its prime, sunflower and potentially canola are excellent options, such as in the 6th or 7th year after planting of the alfalfa stand. Crop budgeting analysis suggest that SJB’s oil seed crop needs will be more profitable than growing oats or barley as the rotation crop for alfalfa. Sunflowers are generally drought tolerant, and can give good yields with less irrigation as well.

Crop	Yield	Basis	Price	Gross
Sunflower	2200 lbs/acre	Aug ‘08 offer	20.0¢/lb	$440
Oats	90 bu/acre	Mar ‘08 price	3.97/bu	$357

For inquires about contracting for oil seed crop production, please contact:
Greg Vlaming, San Juan Bioenergy Director of Grower Services: 970-769-3271, info@sanjuanbioenergy.com

For questions on crop production practices, please contact:
Dan Fernandez, Colo. State University Dolores County Extension Office: 970-677-2283, info@sanjuanbioenergy.com

Prices as of January 6, 2009

Crop	FOB Your Bin*	FOB Dove Creek**
Conventional Mid or High Oleic Sunflower	$0.15 /lb	$0.13 /lb
Organic High Oleic Sunflower	$0.30 /lb	$0.28 /lb
Conventional High Oleic Safflower	$0.14 /lb	$0.12 /lb
Organic High Oleic Safflower	$0.30 /lb	$0.28 /lb
Conventional Canola	$0.14 /lb	$0.12 /lb

1) Contract pricing subject to change based on market conditions
2) Call 970-677-3332 or 866-966-9770 for current pricing and contracts

* FOB Your Bin: SJB will pick up, within 50 miles of Dove Creek (or grower can deliver), at a mutually agreed Buyer's call in 2009.
** FOB Dove Creek: Grower delivers at harvest to a SJB bin in or around Dove Creek.

Our contracts include a 2% premium for each 1% oil content above 40% for sunflower (43% for canola, and 37% for safflower). For questions on crop production practices, please contact Dolores County CSU Extension office at 970-677-2283, or Greg Vlaming at the number above.

Related Downloads

• 2008 Oilseed Contract
• Dryland Production Fact Sheet