For this reason, the sunflower was a favorite subject for Europe's greatest artists such as Van Gogh and Piccaso. Sales of these paintings can bring millions of dollars today. The sunflower continues to be a favorite art form for designers of fashion to the every-day coffee mug. It has, and continues, to stand the test of time. Sunflower seeds are high in energy and provide many of the nutrients that most birds need and prefer.
Studies indicate that most seed eating bird species prefer sunflower to other common types of seed.
It's our understanding that sunflower seed is the most popular bird seed on the market, either by itself or as the base in other bird food mixtures. The farm manager explained the crop would be harvested to be used in dairy cattle feed, but mentioned the heads could be used as whole-head feeders for birds. The idea stuck in Tom's head, and over the winter, he and wife Beth decided it would be a project they'd like to pursue. Our growing season started with minimum tillage of the soil in the spring . The seedbed was planted in mid-June.