If you were not able to attend this year’s NSA Research Forum, you can still learn about the latest sunflower research. Power Point Presentations of all the reports given at the forum can now be found on the NSA website under the “research” tab. Visit https://www.sunflowernsa.com/Research/Research-Forum-PowerPoint-Presentations-Since-2008/2026/ to see this year’s presentations. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, and University of Wisconsin-River Falls presented papers and posters on their work. For a historical look, all the presentations dating back to 2008 are available there as well.

SDSU Extension has released the 2026 South Dakota Pest Management Guides. Available for free at https://extension.sdstate.edu/south-dakota-pest-management-guides. The guides provide updated recommendations for controlling weeds, insects, and diseases in sunflower. In addition, Pest Management Guides provide a comprehensive index of what pesticides are labeled for South Dakota fields.

The South Dakota Sunflower Trial Results for 2025 and selection guide are now available online. Producers can find data about hybrid performance throughout the state and information about yield and other information needed for accurate selection of sunflower hybrids for agricultural production in South Dakota. Find the guide here: https://extension.sdstate.edu/south-dakota-sunflower-hybrid-performance-trials

Nearby prices are unchanged to up 60 cents with 2026 new crop down 25 cents to up 10 cents at the crush plants this week. At the North Dakota crush plants nearby prices are currently trading about $1.00 per cwt. higher than the 60 day moving average. The crop insurance price discovery process continues for 2026 crop insurance price elections. Oil type sunflowers are $28.30, and confections are $36.20 per cwt. To follow sunflower price election trends, watch the 2026 CBoT December soyoil contract through February 27. Final price elections will be announced in early March. On the CBoT, traders are squaring positions ahead of the next World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report from USDA. Harvest is underway in South America. This will have the trade keeping close tabs on weather conditions, yield, and production forecasts. 2025/26 soybean production in Brazil has most analysts still expecting a bin-busting soybean crop of around 180-182 million metric tons (MMT). That compares with soybean production of 171.5 MMT last year. Argentina is expected to produce 48-49 MMT of soybeans, which is a slight decrease from the previous year. USDA will update its production estimates for Brazil and Argentina this week. Export demand news and South American oilseed production prospects will determine price direction in the near term.

Growers are invited to attend elections in their county for the sunflower representatives to the North Dakota Oilseed Council. Elections are being held in several areas in February. Here’s a list by county:

• Sargent: February 11, 9:30 a.m., Sargent County EXT Office, Forman
• Traill: February 11, 10:00 a.m., Traill County Courthouse, Hillsboro
• Richland: February 19, 11:00 a.m., Colfax Community Center, Colfax
• Griggs: February 23, 12:00 PM, Cooperstown Country Club, Cooperstown
• Steele: February 26,1:00 PM, Finley American Legion, Finley

For more information, visit  www.oilseedcouncil.nd.gov

The National Sunflower Association along with forty farm and agricultural groups, and growing, launched the Agricultural Coalition for the United-States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), underscoring the accord’s vital role as an economic engine for the U.S. farm economy and calling for its renewal with targeted improvements. As part of the launch, the group unveiled a new website: https://agforusmca.com/ and kicked off an aggressive ad campaign in the nation’s capital, all of which is designed to promote the benefits afforded to the U.S. food and agriculture sector under the USMCA as the administration approaches the 2026 mandatory review.

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

NSA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Anyone requesting special accommodation should notify NSA within a reasonable timeframe. NSA will accommodate reasonable requests.