The timing of the trade talks on the USMCA deal this week came at a good time for U.S. sunflower growers as Canada remains an important export destination. National Sunflower Association Executive Director John Sandbakken says while Canada is the top market, they’re also doing business with Mexico and most recently with Japan.

He says export business for U.S. sunflowers has improved and will keep getting better now that the USMCA trade deal has been in effect since it began a year ago.

Sandbakken says while it’s good to have export business, most of the sunflower oil is sold domestically and demand has been good for that.

The key time period for sunflowers will be later this fall.