Langdon, ND grower Paul Boesl says he just started harvesting his sunflower. The weather won’t let his fields dry up. They continue to get rain and fog. He is seeing lots of Phomopsis damage. Currently yields are below normal yields but hoping for better as harvest continues.

At the crush plants nearby prices were unchanged to up 50 cents 2027 new crop contracts were unchanged. Last week USDA released its latest grain stocks report. USDA pegged old crop sunflower stocks in all positions on September 1, 2026, at 302.7 million pounds, up 45 percent from a year ago. All stocks stored on farms totaled 26.4  million pounds and off-farm stocks totaled 276.4 million pounds. Stocks of oil type sunflower seed are 263.4 million pounds; of this total, 20.9 million pounds are on-farm stocks, and 242.5 million pounds are off-farm stocks. Non-oil sunflower stocks totaled 39.3 million pounds, with 5.4 million pounds stored on the farm and 33.9 million pounds stored off the farm. Stocks of oil type sunflower seed were 54 percent higher than last year. Non-oil stocks were up 2 percent from last year. Both figures were within average industry estimates. Traders were expecting sunflower seed stocks to be up from a year ago but within the five-year average after last year’s larger crop. USDA did not make any adjustments to the previously released March 1 seed stocks report. USDA’s first estimate of 2026 US harvested sunflower acres and total seed production will be released this week. Dry and warm conditions are forecast in the Northern Plains for the rest of this week and much of next week as well. Conditions will be good for maturing sunflowers.

With the sporadic rains, it is important to scout for Phomopsis stem canker and other sunflower diseases. For Phomopsis stem canker, a light to dark colored lesion develops on the stem, and a possible discoloration on the sunflower head.  The NDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab can give producers confirmation if Phomopsis stem canker is suspected. Using culture techniques and DNA-based assays, the fungus causing Phomopsis stem canker will be determined. For information on how to send samples, please contact Febina Mathew  (febina.mathew@ndsu.edu). The address to send samples (only diseased stem and/or head rot) is Febina Mathew, NDSU Plant Pathology Dept., 1402 Albrecht Blvd., 321 Walster Hall, Fargo, ND 58102. For more on Phomopsis stem canker or other sunflower diseases, visit https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/publications/sunflower-disease-diagnostic-series

As sunflower harvest gets underway, a reminder about reducing the risk of combine fires this harvest season. Be sure to keep a clean work area when harvesting sunflower. Blow the combine and grain dryer setup with an air hose daily. Also, try nighttime harvesting when humidity levels are higher. And keep a small pressure sprayer filled with water on hand in the combine. For more information, visit Combine Fire Responses (sunflowernsa.com)

January 13-14, 2027 - NSA Research Forum, Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND

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