Every year, the National Sunflower Association presents its Gold Award to an individual who has contributed extraordinarily to the overall sunflower industry, either through his or her occupation or through the National Sunflower Association. This award is considered to be the highest award that the NSA presents to individuals. The award has been given since 1989. Some past Gold Award winners include John McLean, Larry Kleingartner, Duane Berglund, Sen. Mark Andrews, Chuck Moses, Jim Krogh, Gary Fick and Robert Majkrzak. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 NSA Gold Award. Visit www.sunflowernsa.com/all-about/goldaward/ for the eligibility and criteria requirements. Nominations must be received by February 6, 2026. The NSA Board of Directors will review all submitted applications and choose a recipient. The Gold Award will be presented during this year’s NSA Summer Seminar, set for June 23-25 in Deadwood, SD.

Growers are invited to attend elections in their county for the sunflower representatives to the North Dakota Oilseed Council. Elections are being held in several areas in January and February. Here’s a list by county:

• Barnes: January 29, 9:30 a.m., Ag Country, Valley City
• Cass: February 5, 3:00 p.m., Cass County Annex, Fargo
• Sargent: February 11, 9:30 a.m., Sargent County EXT Office, Forman
• Traill: February 11, 10:00 a.m., Traill County Courthouse, Hillsboro
• Richland: February 19, 11:00 a.m., Colfax Community Center, Colfax
• Griggs: February 23, 12:00 PM, Cooperstown Country Club, Cooperstown
• Steele: February 26,1:00 PM, Finley American Legion, Finley

For more information, visit  www.oilseedcouncil.nd.gov

Nearby prices are unchanged to up 20 cents with 2026 new crop contracts down 25 cents to unchanged this week. USDA released its latest estimate of the 2025 US sunflower crop with production increasing from last year. According to USDA, 2025 sunflower production totaled 2.32 billion pounds, up 103 percent from 2024. The United States average yield of 1,863 pounds per acre increased 193 pounds from 2024 and set a new record high. Planted area, at 1.29 million acres, was 79 percent above the previous year. Area harvested increased 82 percent from 2024 to 1.25 million acres. North Dakota, the leading sunflower producing state during 2025, produced 1.09 billion pounds, an increase of 111 percent from 2024. Meanwhile, production in South Dakota increased 86 percent from 2024 to 866 million pounds. United States production of oil-type sunflower varieties, at 2.13 billion pounds, increased 126 percent from 2024. Compared with the previous year, harvested acres were up 104 percent and the average yield increased by 184 pounds to a record high of 1,848 pounds per acre. Production of non-oil sunflower varieties was estimated at 189 million pounds, a decrease of 4 percent from 2024. Area harvested, at 92,200 acres, was down 21 percent from 2024. The average yield increased by 354 pounds from 2024. In its grain stocks report, USDA left old crop sunflower seed stocks in all positions unchanged from its September report. Traders will continue to digest these figures and set market direction in the weeks ahead.

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