If you follow the ag commodity markets closely, you’ve noticed that U.S. sunflower prices have shot higher recently. That’s important in North Dakota, traditionally the nation’s leading sunflower producer.

The Mandan, N.D.-based National Sunflower Association’s latest electronic newsletter says problems with the sunflower crops in Eastern Europe, Russia and Ukraine have helped to push up U.S. prices. Rising prices for soybean oil, which heavily influences sunflower oil prices, are a factor, too.

Many farmers on the Northern Plains have turned away from sunflowers in recent years in favor of other crops.  Will a combination of higher prices and drought (sunflowers fare relatively well in dry conditions) boosts interest in ‘flowers?