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How Much Oil Do You Get From an Acre of Sunflowers?
How Much Oil Do You Get From an Acre of Sunflowers?. Sunflowers are one of the few truly American plants and were domesticated by Native Americans more than 3,000 years ago. Today, approximately 85 percent of all sunflowers grown in America are grown for their oil production, with the remaining seeds going to confectionery uses and bird feed....
Sunflowers are one of the few truly American plants and were domesticated by Native Americans more than 3,000 years ago. Today, approximately 85 percent of all sunflowers grown in America are grown for their oil production, with the remaining seeds going to confectionery uses and bird feed. Today's oil-producing sunflowers yield more than 50-percent oil per weight. Unfortunately, sunflower-crushing plants, which are designed to extract the oil, are not operating in all states where sunflowers are grown, and shipping costs make transporting sunflowers from those states to states with crushing facilities uneconomical.
Contact Markets Before Planting
Make a deal with a crushing plant or other buyer of sunflowers prior to planting your crop. Plant the varieties that your particular market wishes to buy. If possible, lock in a price per bushel or per ton before planting, with a guarantee that your crop will be purchased when it is ready.
Plant Oil-rich Sunflowers
Plant oil-rich varieties of sunflowers on gentle slopes facing south or on flat land that receives plenty of direct sunlight. Water seeds and young plants well until they have reached a minimum of 3 feet tall. Cut back on watering, keeping soil just slightly moist until the seed heads are fully developed. Sunflowers can stand slight drought conditions.
Harvesting
Check the backside of the sunflower's head. If it has turned brown, then it is time to harvest. Special sunflower harvesting heads should be attached to the harvesting machines to prevent excessive hulling of seeds during harvest and excess loss of seed due to seeds falling out of the heads before being pulled onto the machine.
Crushing and Oil Production
High oil-yielding sunflower seeds contain anywhere from 40 to 50 percent oil. Depending on growing conditions and planting density, an acre of high-yield sunflowers can produce anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 lbs. of oil per acre, with an average yield of approximately 1,500 lbs. per acre.
