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Sunflower Briefs

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
filed under: Sunflower Briefs

USDA: Sunflower Production Down 22% vs. 2022
        USDA released its first production forecast for 2023 on October 12.  The report placed this year’s U.S. sunflower production at 2.19 billion lbs, down 22% from the revised 2022 production of 2.81 billion lbs.  Area planted, at 1.32 million acres, is down 2% from the June estimate and down 22% from last year.  Sunflower growers are expected to harvest 1.26 million acres, down 2% from the June forecast and down 21% from 2022.  Acreage updates were made in several states based on a thorough review of all available data.
        The forecast total production for North Dakota, the leading sunflower-producing state this year, is 1.08 billion lbs, a decrease of 20% from 2022.  Compared with last year, the average yield forecast of 1,938 lbs/ac in North Dakota would be up 17 lbs.  In South Dakota, the average yield is forecast at 1,668 lbs/ac, down 78 lbs from last year.  The sunflower yield forecasts in Minnesota and North Dakota will be the highest on record, if realized.
        An updated estimate of 2023 U.S. sunflower production will be released by USDA in January.
 
Papers & Posters Call: 2024 Research Forum
        The National Sunflower Association is inviting submissions for papers to be presented at the 2024 NSA Sunflower Research Forum, set for January 10 and 11 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, N.D.  Presentations may be either oral or in the form of a poster.  A time will be designated for authors to be with their posters and answer questions.  Each oral presentation will be limited to 20 minutes, including time allowed for questions.
        Individuals interested in presenting an oral presentation or poster should visit https://www.sunflowernsa.com/Research/2024-Call-for-Papers/. It’s not necessary to submit the actual paper or poster at this time; just the information indicated online and the author information.  Submissions must be completed by December 11.
 
Colorado No-Till Conference Is February 6 & 7
        The Colorado Conservation Tillage Association’s 2024 High Plains No-Till Conference is scheduled for February 6 and 7 in Burlington, Colo.  Along with keynote speakers Nicole Masters, Jerry Hatfield and Don Day, Jr., more than 45 learning sessions are scheduled.  For more information on the February event, visit www.HighPlainsNoTill.com
 
2024 Summer Seminar in Duluth on June 25-27
        The 2024 National Sunflower Association Summer Seminar is scheduled for June 25-27 at the Radisson-Duluth Harborview, Duluth, Minn.  Watch for more details from NSA and in upcoming issues of The Sunflower as the event draws closer.  It’s the first time the NSA Summer Seminar has been held in Duluth, located at the very western tip of Lake Superior.
 
International Sunflower Conference in China
        The 21st International Sunflower Conference (ISC) will be held on August 20-24, 2024, in Bayannur, China.  The conference is sponsored by the International Sunflower Association (ISA), whose membership consists of national societies and researchers with an interest in sunflower, from more than 30 countries, including the United States. This conference takes place every four years, with recent ones taking place in Mar del Plata, Argentina (2012), Edirne, Turkey (2016) and Novi Sad, Serbia (2020 — postponed to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic).
      ISC 2024 is being sponsored by the Inner Mongolia Sunflower Association and Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, together with the People’s Government of Bayannaoer.  It will be co-organized by the People’s Government of Wuyuan county, Sanrui Agritec. Co. Ltd, Chacha Food Co. Ltd and Sunboy Food Co. Ltd.  Its theme is “Sunflower: Present Trends and Future Challenges,” with a focus on the present development and also the future perspective of sunflower under climate change and global economic integration background.  The conference will also cover the latest findings related to the entire sunflower industry chain, such as sunflower germplasm resources, sunflower breeding techniques, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, trade and markets.
      Dr. Brent Hulke, USDA-ARS sunflower research geneticist, is a member of the current ISA Board of Directors, along with scientists from several other nations.
      For more information about the 2024 International Sunflower Conference, visit http://www.esanrui.com/isc.
 
Always Welcome:  Your Story Suggestions
        With another production season now wrapping up, the National Sunflower Association staff is progressing with another publishing season of The Sunflower magazine. 
        “As always, our goal with the magazine is to provide news and articles of real interest and use to our readership — which consists mainly of sunflower producers around the U.S. and Canada,” says John Sandbakken, NSA executive director and magazine editor.  “Our ongoing objective is to provide information that our readers won't find elsewhere, and we always welcome readers’ suggestions for potential topics or persons to interview for articles.”  Prospective story ideas can be submitted to: johns@sunflowernsa.com
 
NSA Website:  A Useful Tool for Producers
          The NSA website contains lots of information for sunflower producers.  Visit www.sunflowernsa.com/growers to check out the Sunflower Production Resource Book for your area.  The books provide guidelines and recommendations on production practices, pest identification, field selection and more.
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