Sunflower producers across a large portion of the region saw their growing season come to an end when a hard frost hit the first weekend in October.

"Some of this year's crop may have frozen before it was fully mature which could affect test weight and oil content to some degree," commented John Sandbakken, executive director of the National Sunflower Association in the association's weekly newsletter.

"In many cases the freeze was welcome as it will hasten drydown and harvest," he added.

More than half of the sunflowers in the Dakotas are mature Ð 55 percent in North Dakota and 56 percent of South Dakota's sunflowers. South Dakota producers have already started harvesting with 3 percent completed as of Oct. 6.

Thirteen percent of North Dakota's sunflower crop is rated in excellent condition with 62 in good condition, 20 percent fair, 3 percent poor and 2 percent very poor.

South Dakota producers report 63 percent in good/excellent condition, 35 percent fair and 2 percent poor. Minnesota's crop is 37 percent good/excellent, 54 percent fair, 8 percent poor and 1 percent very poor.

Source - http://www.theprairiestar.com/