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Weather delays some sunflower harvest

The executive director of the National Sunflower Association says weather continues to delay sunflower harvest in central South Dakota.

John Sandbakken says a recent snowstorm made it difficult for farm equipment to get into the field, but the crop that’s been harvested through now looks decent.

“In most cases for the yield reports we’ve received from farmers have had from 2,500 to 3,000 pound yields, above normal. There was also a dryland producer in Minnesota who raised sunflowers with more than a 4,000 pound yield.”

Sandbakken says the oil content of the sunflowers in the Northern Plains is the highest it’s been in 30 years.

“We’re averaging 45% oil content. Sunflower growers are paid a premium for anything above 40% and that adds to the bottom line.”

USDA says South Dakota sunflower harvest is 89% complete and harvest is 95% complete in Minnesota. He says if the weather stays dry sunflower harvest should wrap up in the next few weeks.