Is sunflower adapted to Indiana soils and climatic conditions?
Yes, there is ample evidence of good agronomic adaptation. 6. Then why haven’t we grown sunflower in Indiana? We actually have had small commercial acreages in the state from time to time. The problem has generally been profitability relative to alternative crops (principally corn and soybeans) and marketing. If we can solve the former, profitability, the markets will develop. Our last cycle of interest in sunflower production was in 1979-81 when sunflowers were promoted for Indiana production by several seed firms. 7. Is sunflower production profitable in Indiana? It may be, but the real question is: Is it as profitable as corn and soybeans in a given environment? There is no doubt that sunflower yields have increased more rapidly than corn or soybean yields in the last decade and that the gap in profitability has narrowed. Relative profitability depends largely upon the assumed yield relative to corn and soybeans in a given environment. The U.S. average sunflower yield in 1983 was 1,
