Sunflower harvest nationally and in the northern plains is lagging behind the five-year average. National Sunflower Association Executive Director John Sandbakken says only 17 percent of the crop has been harvested nationally, but progress is much better in the high plains states where the weather has been more cooperative.

He says there aren’t a lot of yield results yet with harvest just getting started, but production prospects are good.

Sandbakken says one positive is sunflower prices have been stronger.

As of Sunday, the sunflower harvest in South Dakota was at 12 percent compared to the five-year average of 44 percent. North Dakota stood at 11 percent verse the 47 percent average and Minnesota was at 20 percent, which is 50-percent behind norma