North Dakota State University’s Agricultural Extension Service has already set the date for its next annual ‘Getting It Right’ sunflower production Zoom conference.  The 2026 version will take place on Tuesday, January 13.  Interested parties can get more information and/or register by visiting https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/getting-it-right. That same site carries extensive coverage of the topics addressed during the 2025 ‘Getting It Right’ conference, which was supported by the National Sunflower Association. Several other resources can be found at this website as well, including the NDSU weed control, insect management and plant disease management guides.

We are looking for research papers to be presented at the NSA Research Forum, set for January 7-8, 2026, in Fargo, ND. 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 15-17 minutes with 2-3 minutes allowed for questions. Visit 2026 Call for Papers if you are interested in presenting a paper. You do not have 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 8, 2025.

Registration is now open for the 2026 NSA Research Forum, scheduled for January 7-8, 2026 at the Holiday Inn (3803 13th Ave. S, Fargo, ND) Visit 2026 NSA Research Forum to register for the forum at the early bird price of $150.  You’ll find hotel information there as well.

Nearby prices are unchanged this week. Sunflower harvest is largely finished for the 2025 growing season across the country and remains close to historical benchmarks as the season ends. With the 2025 U.S. harvest in the books, traders will increasingly look to South America for price signals in the coming months. Per Oil World, global sunflower production for 2025/26, is estimated at 56.6 million metric tons (MMT), reflecting a recovery of only 1.3 MMT from last year’s low level. Back in June, initial production estimates were in the range of 60-61 MMT. Sunflower seed production is turning out sharply below earlier expectations, primarily in the Black Sea region. Oil World made downward revisions for Ukraine due to reports about considerably lower than expected yields per hectare. Sunflower production in the European Union is not coming up to expectations as well. Yield reports resulted in Oil World reducing its production estimate to only 8.54 MMT, the smallest in nine years and even down slightly from last year’s drought, reduced 8.67 MMT. Currently the estimate for Argentina’s sunflower crop is at 5.6 MMT for early 2026. The next big report on the 2025 US sunflower crop will come in the January WASDE and Crop Production reports, which will feature a final estimate of 2025 yield, acreage, and production. The USDA Grain Stocks report released that day will also provide fresh insights to final 2024/25 usage figures that will determine 2025/26 beginning stocks numbers.

Would you like to get a link to a digital copy of Sunflower Highlights each week in your email? It’s easy! Visit www.sunflowernsa.com/smartmail/  to sign up. You can sign up for a digital copy of our magazine, The Sunflower, there too. And for sunflower prices at various locations, visit www.sunflowernsa.com/growers/Marketing/daily-market-news/#

Exports of kernel are down 7% from a year ago, from 3,235 metric tons (MT) to 3,014 MT from October 2024 to August 2025. Canada remains the top importer of U.S. sunflower kernel, importing 1,999 MT. In-shell exports decreased from 12,425 MT to 5,381 MT from October 2024 to August 2025. Mexico remains the top importer of in-shell confection sunflower, importing 2,284 MT with Canada a close second importing 1,683 MT during the period. Sunflower oil exports are down 11% from a year ago, from 24,138 MT to 21,492 MT from October 2024 to August 2025. Canada remains the top importer, importing 12,267 MT down 22% from a year ago. Mexico is the number two destination importing 3,469 MT during the period.

January 7-8, 2026 - NSA Research Forum; Holiday Inn; Fargo, ND

January 13, 2026 - Getting-it-Right in Sunflower Production; Zoom Conference

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

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