Blooming Progress: Sunflower growers are happy about this year’s reconciliation package

The U.S. sunflower crop is shaping up well this year.

One group says things really turned around when the “Big, Beautiful Bill” was signed into law.

“One of the things that we spent a lot of time on was when Congress was working on the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’ The provisions there for the Farm Bill have just been phenomenal for our producers. We got higher reference prices, better crop insurance coverage, and loan rates were increased, and they could add some acres to their base acres, so we worked hard on that, and we’re thankful to see all that come to fruition. Honestly, the way the Farm Bill was progressing, I mean, it was going to be difficult to get something through Congress, so it was our best vehicle, and I’m glad it worked out,” said John Sandbakken.

Despite the wins in the reconciliation process, sunflower growers are still looking ahead to a new five-year Farm Bill.

Lawmakers are expected to tackle that when they return to the hill next month.

Related Stories
Crush demand is supporting soybeans despite biofuel uncertainty.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Brian Earnest, an animal protein economist with CoBank, shares insights into current demand trends and the challenges facing broiler production.
Jack Hubbard, with the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares context and perspective on the controversial letter about Prop 12 circulating in Washington and how a review shows it misled the public.
AFBF Economist Faith Parum discusses the financial challenges currently facing farmers and the Farm Bureau’s 2026 outlook for the farm economy.
From tariff talks in Europe to SCOTUS uncertainty and rising farm losses, analysts say policy and global supply will shape grain markets in the year ahead.
Ethanol and corn groups are not hiding their disappointment over new reports that the bill to allow year-round E15 sales failed as Congress forges ahead on government funding, with another shutdown looming.
While row crops are expected to see softer impacts, analysts say severe weather of this magnitude will not be as kind to cattle producers.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.