AWB today launched its mono-sunflower production program to encourage Australian farmers in Victoria, NSW and Qld to grow mono-sunflowers and meet increasing demand for healthy Australian oils.

AWB’s Josh Gordon said: “We continue to see strong demand from a range of domestic and international customers for Australian mono-sunflowers. Because of the expanding market and the agronomic advantages sunflowers provide we encourage farmers to consider this opportunity.”

“Australian oils and oilseeds have an excellent reputation with domestic and international buyers. AWB will be actively buying Australian mono-sunflowers this season to ensure we can meet our strong customer requirements,” Mr Gordon said.

“AWB is supporting farmers to grow mono-sunflowers by providing a seed cost rebate on contracted hectares as well as assisting them to manage price and production risk”.

“We are in the ideal position to offer this unique marketing opportunity for mono-sunflower oils which will be processed at Cargill crush plants and the Cargill vegetable oil refinery in Australia,” Mr Gordon said.

Currently Australia is a net importer of sunflower oil, with the majority imported from Argentina. AWB see an opportunity for Australian farmers to play a greater role in this expanding market.

“In addition to the selling opportunities, farmers are discovering the agronomic benefits of planting sunflowers,” Mr Gordon said.

“Sunflowers are highly suited to minimum tillage farming systems, can be an effective break crop for diseases in winter cereals and can present a double cropping opportunity due to the short growing season,” Mr Gordon said.

The AWB mono-sunflower production program provides the following benefits to farmers:

• A $15/ha seed cost rebate on any approved varieties of mono-sunflower seed purchased;
• The comfort of a known price with no production risk on the first 0.5mt/ha* you produce;
• Opportunity to price mono-sunflowers for up to three months after planting;
• Ease of delivery at harvest with AWB ex-farm pricing and last load service when selling through AWB, ensuring farmers can market all of your crop: &
• On farm storage incentives to get the most out of on farm storage.

Farmers looking to take advantage of this marketing opportunity should talk to their local AWB representative or call AWB’s grower services centre on 1800 4GRAIN (1800 447 246).

Website: http://www.awb.com.au

Published: August 27, 2012