The National Sunflower Association’s 48th annual Sunflower Research Forum starts Wednesday, January 7. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, North Dakota State University, and South Dakota State University, will present their findings on sunflower studies they have conducted. Topics will cover everything from diseases, insects, weed control, blackbirds, and more. The forum is set for January 7-8 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, ND. This is an annual event designed to learn about research, promote discussion and stimulate creative thinking. It’s not too late to attend; you can register at the door on Wednesday morning! Visit: https://www.sunflowernsa.com/events/2026-NSA-Research-Forum/ for more information.

Sunflower producers and crop advisers interested in sunflower production management updates should plan to participate in the Zoom conference ‘2026 Getting-it-Right in Sunflower Production’ on Tuesday, January 13 from 8:30 a.m. to noon CST. The program will be conducted by North Dakota State University Extension and is supported by NSA. Topics that will be covered range from plant nutrient and soil management, updates for weed, disease and insect management, and sunflower marketing. Attendees will receive a list of several pertinent extension sunflower production resources as reference materials and are supplemental to the presentations. The presentations will be recorded and archived.

Certified crop adviser continuing education credits will be available for meeting participants. Pre-registration is required at: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/getting-it-right. This site also has video links to the previous sunflower production meeting. All who preregister will receive emailed instructions on how to participate in the meeting. The program is free of charge.

Nearby prices are up 20 cents with 2026 new crop contracts unchanged at the crush plants. Sunflower is the only oilseed that pays premiums for oil content above 40%. Considering oil premiums that are offered at the crush plants on oil content above 40% at a rate of 2% price premium for each 1% of oil above 40%; this pushes a contract with 45% oil content gross return 10% higher per cwt. The $22.80 contract increases to $25.10. On January 12, the USDA will issue an important monthly USDA report which will include updated US and World Supply and Demand tables, US Winter Wheat plantings, and Quarterly Stocks. In the report USDA will release its latest estimate of 2025/26 US and global sunflower production. In December, USDA estimated global sunflower seed production at 51.8 million metric tons, down 1% from 2024/25. Lower production in Ukraine is the leading factor for the decrease. Ukrainian sunflower production estimates remain murky due to the ongoing war, but production is anticipated to be around 19% lower than 2024. The European Union and Turkey are expected to have lower than average production as well. On the CBoT, trading has been driven by positioning ahead of next week’s USDA reports, stronger dollar, demand news and La Nina weather conditions in South America.

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