In cooperation with sunflower seed suppliers, the National Sunflower Association will be providing producers with an unprecedented opportunity this summer to view NuSun hybrids and learn more about them. Three NuSun Show Field events are scheduled for the Dakotas, with a fourth to take place in western Kansas. All are in August.

More than 50 NuSun oil hybrids representing nearly a dozen seed companies will be showcased at each location. Also, four confection seed suppliers will have a total of 12 varieties “on display,” and several chemical companies will have herbicide trials. Some of the sites also will feature university research plots.

University and USDA sunflower specialists will address the breeding of NuSun hybrids, developments on hybrids with resistance to IMI and SU herbicides, disease management, weed control and other timely topics.

Each participating seed and chemical company will have representatives on hand at the four locations.

In addition to the actual field day at each location, information will be available throughout the season for those who would like to take a self-guided tour.


The Kansas NuSun Show Field event is planned for August 4 at a site near the Northern Sun processing plant west of Goodland. Details were yet to be finalized as of the date The Sunflower went to press.

The three Northern Plains NuSun Show Field events are as follows:

• August 17 / Gettysburg, S.D. — This site will be one mile south of the junction of U.S. highways 83 and 212 west of Gettysburg. There will be three large replicated plots of NuSun oil hybrids, along with plots containing four companies’ (Agway, Pioneer, Red River Commodities and Seeds 2000) confection varieties. Four chemical companies (Dow AgroSciences, FMC, Monsanto and Valent USA) will have herbicide trials, and there also will be university research plots at the site.

• August 24 / Hazelton, N.D. — Located two miles north of Hazelton on U.S. Highway 83, this event will feature the 50 NuSun oil hybrids and the 12 confection varieties. Dow AgroSciences, FMC and Valent USA will have herbicide demonstra-tion plots, and there also will be university research trials.

• August 29 / Carrington, N.D. — The site will be situated along U.S. Highway 281 north of Carrington and across the highway from the NDSU Research & Extension Center. Demonstration plots containing the various NuSun varieties will be there, along with chemical company herbicide trials. This NuSun event is being held in concert with the annual row-crop field day at the NDSU center.

Sunflower producers are encouraged to watch their local media this summer for more details on these special NuSun events. Interested persons also can contact the National Sunflower Association at (toll-free) 888-718-7033 for more details.