Walcott, ND grower Matt Swenson says he did not have any weed issues this year but did have some sclerotinia and Phomopsis. He says by the end of today he will be done harvesting his sunflower. He says his oil quality is great and yields are ok. Test weight is about 31.5 lbs.

At the crush plants nearby prices were down 50 cents to unchanged. 2026 new crop contracts were down 20 cents to unchanged. Last week USDA released its latest grain stocks report. USDA pegged old crop sunflower stocks in all positions on September 1, 2025, at 209 million pounds, down 63 percent from a year ago. All stocks stored on farms totaled 21.2  million pounds and off-farm stocks totaled 187.8 million pounds. Stocks of oil type sunflower seed are 170.6 million pounds; of this total, 15.4 million pounds are on-farm stocks, and 155.2 million pounds are off-farm stocks. Non-oil sunflower stocks totaled 38.4 million pounds, with 5.9 million pounds stored on the farm and 32.5 million pounds stored off the farm. Stocks of oil type sunflower seed were 66 percent lower than last year. Non-oil stocks were down 44 percent from last year. Both figures were within average industry estimates. The most interesting item in the report was a change to the March 1 off farm stocks figure for oil-type seed. USDA “found” an additional 75 million pounds since the report was released. This helps explain the increased crush and birdfood usage when most thought the bins were almost empty. Lastly, the first USDA estimate of 2025 US harvested sunflower acres and total seed production will likely be delayed due to the government shutdown.

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.  Mathew’s lab at North Dakota State University is needing sunflower plant samples that are suspected of Phomopsis stem canker. 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., 306 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 7-8, 2026 - NSA Research Forum; Holiday Inn; Fargo, ND 

June 23-25, 2026 - NSA Summer Seminar; Deadwood, SD

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