Sunflower growers in Minnesota and the Dakotas still have about 20 percent of their crop yet in the fields waiting to be harvested. That’ll be part of the discussion at this week’s National Sunflower Research Forum in Fargo. National Sunflower Association Executive Director John Sandbakken says what’s positive now is prices are stronger for sunflowers.

He says they’ll have several researchers presenting at their forum to update producers on ways to increase yield as well as ways to battle diseases and insect pressure.

Sandbakken says one of the more recent disease issues growers have learned about at their forums is how to deal with is Phomopsis. He says Phomopsis causes stalk breakage in sunflowers.

NSA’s Research Forum runs Wednesday and Thursday at the Fargo Holiday Inn.