Sunflower

All Sunflower Content

Sunflower & Oilseeds

There are times when sunflower producers need unbiased answers. That’s what we are here for.

aerial view of South Dakota farm and surrounding land

Crops

During the growing season, SDSU Extension provides weekly production recommendations.

Sunflower growing in a South Dakota field.

Jul 08

Growing Smarter: Research for Resilient Farms

The USDA Agriculture Research Service will host its 32nd Annual Field Day - Growing Smarter: Research for Resilient Farms on July 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CDT at the Eastern South Dakota Soil and Water Research Farm (3714 Western Ave, Brookings, SD 57006).

Dark colored caterpillar with two distinct black lines on head capsule.

Dingy Cutworms Causing Issues in South Dakota Soybean

Dingy cutworms are commonly observed during the spring but typically do not reach major pest status. However, when the conditions are right, they can cause substantial feeding injury to seedling soybeans, as well as corn, wheat, and sunflower.

Small beetle with elongated black snout. Beetle is red-orange in color.

Management of Pyrethroid-resistant Red Sunflower Seed Weevils

Factsheet on the management strategies of Pyrethroid-resistant Red Sunflower Seed Weevils.

a handfull of sunflower seeds with small holes in the shells on a white table.

Differentiating Insect Damage to Sunflower Seeds

This publication covers different insect damage characteristics to sunflower seeds.

South Dakota Pest Management Guides

The South Dakota Pest Management guides are now available for free. The guides offer recommendations for controlling weeds, insects, and diseases in a variety of South Dakota crops.

Bright-yellow sunflowers growing in a field.

Sunflower Hybrid Variety Trial Results

In 2025, sunflower trials were planted in two locations in South Dakota.

Cream colored larva that has an accordion shape and a brown head in the stem of a sunflower.

Dectes Stem Borer in South Dakota Sunflowers

Factsheet covering Dectes stem borer in sunflowers.

Did Malathion Effectively Manage Your Red Sunflower Seed Weevils?

Now that the August 31 deadline for the application of products containing malathion for red sunflower seed weevil management has passed, it is time to determine if the product was effective. South Dakota State University entomologists have received varying reports on this topic.