State Board
of
Agricultural Research Fund

SBAR Sunflower Granting Committee

Radisson Inn, Bismarck

November 30, 1998

Meeting Minutes

The State Board of Agricultural Research's sunflower granting committee meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chairman Gary Fick. Members present were Chairman Fick, Curt Stern, Jay Fischer (designee for Jerry Miller), Andy Hulm, John Riley, Pat Duhigg, and Dr. Burton Johnson (designee for Cole Gustafson.) Others present were Larry Kleingartner, Executive Director of National Sunflower Association (NSA), Ken Swenson, President of NSA's Board of Directors, and Lori Capouch, Coordinator of the Agricultural Research Fund.

The meeting began with presentations of the proposals.

Affects of Plant Desiccants on Sunflower Harvest

Presenter: Dr. Burton Johnson Amount Requested: $18,000/year - 3 years

This study will provide sunflower producers information helpful in harvest management. Agronomic and economic crop performance will be compared with and without desiccation for traditional and stay-green hybrids. Stay-green hybrids have not been evaluated before and this accentuates the usefulness of this study to producers. Also the desiccant paraquat has recently been labeled for use in non-oilseed sunflower and growers would benefit from research regarding its use and effectiveness both agronomically and economically.

The grant funds will be used to cover expenses require for conducting the study. The majority of funds will be associated with labor costs.

The Influence of Harvest Date on Seed Yield in Sunflower

Presenter: Dr. Burton Johnson Amount Requested: $11,250/year-3 years

This study will provide producers agronomic and economic information on which to make harvesting decisions for traditional and newer stay-green hybrids. Harvesting early will require drying of seed and possible equipment difficulties in the threshing operation may occur. The advantage of earlier harvesting is potentially greater yield. Prolonged exposure to weather by late harvesting can cause plant lodging and seed shattering, both reducing seed yield and often seed quality. Timing harvest maturity (10% seed moisture) is often not feasible for producers, especially when large acreage are involved and weather complications arise.

Boron Deficiency in Sunflower

Presenter: Dr. Patrick Carr Amount Requested: $2,237.50/yr-two years

The benefits which sunflowers provide when incorporated into traditional, small grain rotations has led to a resurgence of interest in this crop in SW North Dakota. Producers who previously have not grown sunflowers are now growing this crop. A production has expanded onto farms where sunflower has not been grown, boron deficiency problems have been reported. Correcting these deficiency problems has been exasperated by a lack of practical information on how to do so.

Fertilizers are available for amending soils that are deficient in boron. However, much greater care must be given when applying boron than most other plant nutrients. The over-application of even small amounts of boron can result in toxicity problems developing. For this reason, work is needed to develop practical methods for correcting boron deficiency when growing sunflower in SW North Dakota.

A replicated, randomized on-farm experiment will be conducted by applying different rates and formulations of boron to a sunflower field where a boron deficiency has been reported. Plant counts, vegetative and reproductive growth, seed yield, and seed oil concentration data will be collected and analyzed to determine the response of sunflower to boron fertilizer additions. Amounts of boron fertilizer that are needed to correct boron deficiency problems will be identified, as will he amounts of boron fertilizer that result in toxicity problems. The formulation of boron fertilizer which most easily corrects the deficiency in sunflowers will be identified.

Sunflower Date of Planting Study in Western North Dakota

Presenter: Roger Ashley Amount Requested: $10,430/1^st

year; $5,650 years 2 & 3

There has been minimal date of planting research in SW North Dakota. There may be opportunities to plant sunflower earlier in the region than other parts of North Dakota. SW ND tends to have less snow cover and thus soils warm earlier in the spring.. Sunflower has been planted successfully in late April in parts of Minnesota and South Dakota. Yields and quality of early planted sunflower has generally been above average. Soil moisture is usually the limiting factor for crop yields in SW North Dakota. Early planting may coincide with rainfall during growing season. An obvious advantage to early planting is early harvest and potential soil moisture rejuvenation for the next cropping season. No-till farmers in SW ND promote the need for an early crop canopy that produces a favorable micro-climate of (in canopy) humidity, cooler soils and less soil moisture loss to evaporation. There may be an opportunity to enhance sunflower yields in SW ND with an early field canopy.

Research will be conducted in three sites in SW ND using four planting dates. The first planting will occur in the last half of April with succeeding dates approximately 14 days apart. One medium length maturing hybrid will be selected. Two types of planting will occur at each site. One planting will be solid seeded and one planting in conventional 30 or 36 inch spacing. Soil temperature, air temperature and relative humidity will be monitored in both row and solid seeded plots. Harvest will begin when seed moisture levels are around 15%. Harvest yield, test weight and oil content will be determined.

Yield Gain in Oilseed Sunflower from Honey Bee Out-Crossing Compared to Insect Pest Loss

Presenter: Dr. Jawahar Jyoti Amount Requested: $3,187.50/one year

This study will determine the relative attractiveness of sunflower hybrids to honey bees, the impact of honey bee pollination on seed set and yield, and compare the yield gain due to cross-pollination with yield loss caused by a pest insect.

Up to 10 sunflower hybrids will be planted in a replicated trial. Treatments include: hybrids, self- and cross-pollinated plants, and artificial infestation with the banded sunflower moth. Comparisons will be made among hybrids, between cross- and self- pollinated plants, and among plants with and without insect damage. Artificial infestation levels will be adjusted to provide damage approximating the economic injury level. Controls will be hybrids with bees excluded.

The researcher expects the hybrids tested will differ in their attractiveness to honey bees and also that hybrids will differ in their degree of self-compatibility. Therefore, yield and bee counts per hybrid will be compared among hybrids. At plant maturity, heads will be harvested and dried. Data will be collected on number of normal seeds per head, the percentage of damage seeds, yield per head, seed oil content, and head diameter.

Sunflower Midge Insecticide Control

Presenter: Dr. Jawahar Jyoti Amount Requested: $1,500/one year

Tests to determine midge susceptibility to insecticides will be conducted in the field on individual sunflower heads. Trials will include a number of different insecticides, products shown to be insect repellents, and wetting agents (stickers and spreaders.) These materials will be used alone and in combination to compare control of both adults and larvae. Applications will be made at different plant stages or times. Controls will be heads bagged to prevent infestation. The degree of protection provided by the different treatments will be measured by comparing numbers of larvae n the heads following treatment and at plant maturity, damage ratings.

Large plot trials will be established in cooperation with different industry groups. The objectives of this trial will be to test different insecticide application methods for control of adults and larvae. Cooperators will establish and treat the maturity, the plots will be rated for midge damage and the different treatments compared. Insecticide treatments will include: normal water volume applied at R2 stage, normal water volume applied at R2 stage and a second application one week later, high water volume applied at R2 stage, high water volume applied at R2 stage and a second application one week later, and untreated control.

The results of these trials will help determine the most efficacious application method and best timing for using insecticides for control of the sunflower midge.

Sclerotinia Infection and Inoculum Production as Influenced by Crop Species and Management Technique

Presenter: Dr. Bob Henson Amount Requested: $3,700/3 years

Epidemics of scab in recent years have sparked grower interest in alternatives to small grains, but most broadleaf crops are susceptible to sclerotinia (white mold.) This research aims to compare common broadleaf crops (canola, dry bean, field pea, flax, soybean, and sunflower) for relative susceptibility to white mold and the production of reproductive bodies (disease inoculum for succeeding crops.) Contrasting plant types and row spacings are compared to identify the best crop and management alternatives for crop rotations.

The funds will be used for: 1. Labor to install, maintain and harvest the experiment, control pest, collect data, and process samples; 2. Irrigation equipment to promote development of white mold in the plots and insure good crop growth; 3. Electricity for irrigation pump and ovens to dry samples, soil testing, pesticides, communication, gas, and other supplies necessary for conducting the research; 4. Data processing; 5. Travel to present results at meetings.

Herbicide Efficiency in Sunflower

Presenter: Dr. Richard Zollinger Amount Requested: $3,750/one year

A major limitation of sunflower production is lack of herbicides registered for broadleaf control. Several new experimental herbicides become available each year from basic manufacturers. These products require testing on sunflower to determine adequate sunflower tolerance and spectrum of weed control in multiple North Dakota environments. These products require application alone and in tank-mix combinations to determine affect on sunflower safety and weed control.

At least six herbicide sunflower tolerance and weed efficacy trials will be established in North Dakota. Each site will explore the following products applied at different rates, alone or in tank-mix combinations with registered herbicides: 1. Sulfentrazone (Spartan, previously Authority); 2. V-53482; 3. R6447 (azafenidin, Milestone); 4. Oxadiargyl (Raft); 5. Flurochloridone (Racer); 6. Acetochlor (Harness/Surpass); 7. Dual Magnum.

Visible and physical parameters will be measured to determine sunflower safety from several varieties and to determine spectrum and degree of weed control.

It was the consensus of the committee to make the following recommendation for funding to the National Sunflower Association's Board of Directors:

Affects of Plant Desiccants on Sunflower Harvest

$12,000 from SBAR $4,000 from NSA

This level of funding reflects the reduction of one test site. The committee recommends the researcher seek additional funds from the South Dakota Oilseeds Council for the unfunded site.

Influence of Harvest Date on Seed Yield in Sunflower

$8,322.24 from SBAR $2,9927.76 from NSA

This level of funding reflects the reduction of one test site. The committee recommends the researcher seek additional funds from the South Dakota Oilseeds Council for the unfunded site.

Sunflower Date of Planting Study in Western North Dakota

$6,867.50 from SBAR $2,292.50 from NSA

This level of funding does not include the request for equipment.

Sunflower Midge Insecticide Control

$1,500 from SBAR $500 from NSA

Sclerotinia Infection & Inoculum Production as Influenced by Crop Species & Management Technique

$3,700 from SBAR $2,750 from NSA

Herbicide Efficiency in Sunflower

$3,750 from SBAR $1,250 from NSA

Total Recommendation: $36,139.74 from SBAR & $13,720.26 from NSA

Due to funding limitations, the committee was not able to fund two of the projects: Boron Deficiency in Sunflower and Yield Gain in Oilseed Sunflower from Honey Bee Out-Crossing Compared to Insect Pest Loss. It was consensus of the committee that there is still interest in these projects and that these researchers continue their quests for funds from the National Sunflower Association.

On 12/2/98, during the National Sunflower Committee's Board of Directors meeting, it was moved to approve the recommendations of the SBAR Sunflower Granting Committee. The motion was seconded and carried.

Proposed Funding for 1998 and tentative funding consideration for subsequent years

*Rounded out money available from SBAR with this project.

North Dakota State University
Morrill Hall 314
Fargo, North Dakota 58105-5562
PHONE: (701)231-7656
FAX: (701)231-7566
Back to Research Fund Index
Back to State Board of Agricultural Research
Internet Email: sbar@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Web Site: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/sbar/