Sunflowers which usually are a very drought tolerant crop are standing up well compared to other crops so far. Although their most critical time like with soybeans will be later this summer. National Sunflower Association Executive Director John Sandbakken says most of the sunflower crop so far ranges from fair to excellent., so it’s progressing well.

He says there may be some double cropping options for growers who have had difficulty with their other crops due to drought damage. Sandbakken says most of that would be in Southern South Dakota or in the High Plains states which have seen better moisture.

Sandbakken says planting of sunflowers this year matched the five year average.

He says 80 percent of the U.S. sunflowers go to domestic markets where there’s been very good demand. Sandbakken says export destinations for U.S sunflowers include Canada, Mexico and some to Japan.