CROP DEVELOPMENT: Emerges 1 to 3 weeks after planting. Well adapted to western North Dakota. Taproot can penetrate 8 to 10 feet in soil. Drought tolerant, frost tolerant in seedling stage (25 degrees F). Flowering occurs 30 to 40 days after emergence, and lasts for 14 to 21 days. 1 to 5 flower heads are typically formed on each plant, with 15 to 20 seeds per head. Thistle like plant. Matures in 100 - 105 days. Typical plant height is 28" to 36".

SOILS: Adapts well to many soils, best on fertile, well drained soils. Saline tolerance is similar to barley.

PLANTING RATE: 20 to 25 lbs/acre.

PLANTING DATE: April 15 to May 10. Late planting can result in crop not reaching maturity. Safflower is quite frost tolerant in the seedling stage.

SEEDING DEPTH: 1 to 1.5 inches

FERTILITY REQUIREMENTS: 50 lbs. of N per 1000 lbs. of yield. Similar to small grains in phosphorous use. A starter fertilizer containing phosphorous is recommended.

WEED CONTROL: Treflan, Eptam, and Dual are labeled for weed control in ND (1996). Poor competitor. Clean fields are essential.

ROTATION: Usually between small grains.

WATER USE: Fairly drought tolerant.

INSECTS: Grasshoppers.

DISEASES: Sclerotinia (white mold), botrytis, alternaria. Diseases are a problem under moist, humid conditions. Some varieties have disease resistance.

HARVEST: Straight combining is by far preferred. Swaths roll very easily. Harvest as soon as it is ready to avoid sprout damage from fall rains. Storage moisture is 8%.

MARKETS: Bird food, cooking oil.

VARIETIES: Numerous. Finch and S-208 are the main bird food varieties.

TYPICAL YIELDS: 1000 to 1500 lbs/acre.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

For inquiries on product specifications, applications, and prices, email us!!!