According to Statistics Canada data, Canadian farmers intend to plant 66,100 acres of sunflowers this spring, which is down 12.6 percent from 2025. Last year Canadian farmers planted 75,600 acres of sunflower. The 2026 intended acreage is 21 percent below the five-year average of 84,000 acres. The majority of Canada’s sunflower crop is grown in Manitoba, with production also in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Planters will be rolling soon, and the growing season will be upon us! This year, BeSure! is back with its annual national campaign to promote best management practices. Agriculture stakeholders appreciate how neonicotinoid seed treatments, foliar sprays, soil drenches and granules increase yields and boost revenues, but they are also committed to protecting bees and other wildlife. This spring, growers and applicators can follow a few simple guidelines to BeSure! they’re using pesticides safely. To learn more visit: GrowingMatters.org/BeSure

There is still time to submit applications for the National Sunflower Association’s Curtis Stern Memorial Scholarship. Scholarship funds assist students who study in the field of agriculture with a special emphasis on sunflower production, promotion, or research. Preference will be given to students who are in their last two years of undergraduate studies or in graduate level studies and have maintained at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0=A scale.  Application deadline is April 1, 2026. A total of $5,000 is available for the scholarship this year. Applications can be submitted online. Visit www.ndcf.net/receive/scholarships/stern.html  to learn more.  Contact Tina Mittelsteadt at tinam@sunflowernsa.com with any questions.

Nearby sunflower prices were up 15 to 20 cents with new crop up 20 cents at the ND crush plants. Cargill West Fargo is also offering an early harvest 2026 new crop price of $24.35 cash and $23.85 AOG with delivery by October 9. March USDA WASDE reports are typically quiet, and last week’s report was not an exception. USDA's March report estimated U.S. ending stocks for the 2025/26 growing season at 350 million bushels, unchanged from February. U.S. exports are estimated at 1.575 billion bushels (bb), unchanged from February. Total soybean use was projected at 4.262 bb, reflecting the slight bump up in crushing. Globally, USDA projected Brazilian production, at 180 million metric tons (mmt), unchanged from last month, while production in Argentina is estimated at 48.0 mmt, decreased from 48.5 mmt last month. World ending stocks are estimated at 125.31 mmt, a decrease from 125.51 mmt in February. Traders are also speculating on potential US acreage for the upcoming growing season. Trade expectations about planted acreage will likely be in a wide range before the report is released on March 31. The first estimate of 2026 sunflower acres will be available that day. They are also beginning now to look at North American weather and potential weather problems that may arise given dry conditions that have set in after a drier than normal winter in many locations. The market will also be closely monitoring the latest twists and turns in our fast shifting trade policy.

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