USDA Production Forecast: 2.3 Billion Lbs
USDA’s first sunflower production forecast for 2026, released in early October, came in at 2.30 billion lbs, down 1% from the revised 2025 production of 2.34 billion lbs. Area planted, at 1.35 million acres, was up less than 1% from the June estimate and up 5% from last year. Sunflower growers were expecting to harvest 1.31 million acres, up 1% from the June forecast and up 4% from 2025. Acreage updates were made in several states based on a review of all available data.
The October yield forecast, at 1,761 lbs/ac, is 100 lbs below last year’s average yield but will still represent the fourth highest on record for the U.S., if realized.
The forecasted production in North Dakota, the leading sunflower-producing state, is 1.06 billion lbs, a decrease of 3% from 2025. Compared with last year, the average yield forecast of 1,740 lbs/ac in North Dakota would be down 217 lbs from 2025. In South Dakota, the average yield is forecast at 1,959 lbs/ac, down 16 lbs from last year’s record high.
NDSU ‘Getting It Right’ Webinar January 22
The 2027 North Dakota State University Extension ‘Getting It Right’ sunflower webinar is scheduled for January 22, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, CST. Sponsored by the National Sunflower Association, the webinar is free to all interested persons. It features presentations by NDSU sunflower crop specialists on a variety of topics pertaining to current research and crop management recommendations.
Among the presenters will be broadleaf pathology specialist Sam Markell, extension entomologist Janet Knodel, extension soil specialist Brady Goettl, extension weed specialist Joe Ikley, extension broadleaf specialist Ana Carcedo and agricultural economist Frayne Olson. Page Klug of USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services will give a presentation on blackbird management research, and South Dakota State University soil fertility specialist Jason Clark will provide a fertility guidelines update.
Register at the Getting It Right – Sunflower Production Webinar page. There is no charge to attend and CCA credits are available. Note that the webinar is presented on Zoom only.
Papers & Posters Call: 2027 Research Forum
The National Sunflower Association is inviting research papers to be presented at the NSA Research Forum, set for January 13 and 14, 2027, in Fargo, N.D. Presentations may be either oral or in the form of a poster. A time will be designated for authors to be with their posters and answer questions. Each oral presentation will be limited to 15-17 minutes with 2-3 minutes allowed for questions. Those interested in presenting a paper can visit ‘2027 Call for Papers’ on the NSA website. The actual paper or poster need not be submitted at this time; just the information indicated online and the author information. Submissions must be completed by December 8.
2027 Colorado No-Till Conference Feb. 2 & 3
The Colorado Conservation Tillage Association’s 2027 High Plains No-Till Conference is scheduled for February 2 and 3 in Burlington, Colo. Along with keynote speakers, numerous breakout learning sessions are scheduled on topics covering soil health, no-till, regenerative grazing and farm business management. For more information on the February event or to register for it, visit www.HighPlainsNoTill.com.
Suggestions Welcomed for Magazine Issues
The National Sunflower Association continues to invite article suggestions for upcoming issues of The Sunflower magazine — an industry fixture since 1975. “Our goal with the magazine is to provide news and articles of real interest and use to our readership — which consists mainly of sunflower producers around the U.S. and Canada, along with industry personnel,” says John Sandbakken, NSA?executive director and magazine editor.
Story suggestions can be submitted to Sandbakken at johns@sunflowernsa.com.