Dry weather boost for sunflowers

BUT GROWER WARNS INCREASINGLY VARIED WEATHER PATTERNS PUT FARMERS UNDER PRESSURE

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A SEA of sunflowers has been helped by hot and dry conditions this summer but increasingly varied weather patterns are putting farms under pressure, a fifth-generation grower has said.

Vine House Farm in Deeping St Nicholas near Spalding in Lincolnshire grows the flowers for the seeds to be used in bird feed.

Lucy Taylor, manager at the family firm, said there are around 1.5 million sunflower heads grown over an area the equivalent of 65 football pitches.

The 47-year-old said: "It's been a very dry year here, dry and hot especially in the early part of the summer, and that's really benefited our sunflower crop.

"Sunflowers are obviously more traditionally known for mainland Europe, southern France and that sort of area. The above average temperatures have certainly helped them mature earlier than they normally do."

But she continued: "The last couple of years we've struggled with the wet, too much rain.

"I think what we're finding is although Donald Trump may not agree with me - the weather patterns are becoming more varied."