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Growing sunflowers

Supporting sunflower growers during the growing season and beyond

We are an industry leader in hybrid sunflower seed development and agronomic support, providing first-class guidance to sunflower growers throughout the U.S.

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Grower resources

As a member-owned cooperative, no company is closer to its growers than CHS. We know the effort and decision making that goes into growing a successful crop and stand with you each step of the way as you made seed decisions, manage the crop and harvest at the end of the season. Our contract growers enjoy:

  • Proprietary Royal Hybrid® seed varieties
  • Agronomic advice and field visits
  • Marketing contracts to manage risk
  • Convenient locations for seed pick-up and delivery
  • Access to domestic and international markets

Agronomic support

In addition to the support provided by our team, a variety of resources are available to growers, especially those that are new to growing sunflowers or just looking to get started.

  • NDSU Sunflower Production Guide

    A good place to start when growing sunflowers is the NDSU Sunflower Production Guide . This guide takes you through hybrid selection, crop inputs, growth stages, water requirements, pest management and more.
    View guide

  • Grower contracts

    Contracts for the upcoming growing season will be released in early December. Reach out to the CHS sunflower agronomy team to learn more about updated contracts for the upcoming growing season.
    Contact us

  • Industry resources

    These resources provide valuable insights on best practices, pest management, and more. Each resource includes a variety of tools and articles designed to deepen your understanding of sunflowers and support your growing efforts.

  • Open market sunflowers

    If you have open market sunflowers, reach out to our team to learn more about your options for selling to CHS.

Grower delivery

Contracted growers may deliver direct to CHS by appointment, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours are subject to change during peak harvest or due to poor weather conditions. Call the location directly to confirm hours or to ask about arranging on-farm pick-up.

220 Clement Avenue
Grandin, N.D. 58038
701-484-5313

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"I think there is a lot of value in having a cooperative involved in marketing and processing our crops so we have a strong market."

Jamie Routledge

Royal Hybrid® seed

Sunflower growers find success with our comprehensive program of quality seed, agronomic resources and marketing expertise.

For more than half a century, CHS has researched, developed, tested and distributed its own hybrid sunflower seeds. CHS focuses its hybrid seed-breeding efforts on improving yield and performance of confectionary planting seeds while meeting the quality requirements and ever-changing tastes of sunflower seed consumers around the world.

Royal Hybrid® varieties

Royal Hybrid® 8D310
  • Conoil sunflower
  • Dehull contracts available with CHS
  • Flexibility into oil and bird food markets
  • Clearfield hybrid
  • Good plantability and emergence
  • High yield potential
    Mid-maturity (120 days to physiological maturity)
  • Recommended planting rate: 17,000-20,000 plants per acre
Royal Hybrid® 1121
  • Confection sunflower
  • Good plantability
  • Excellent yield potential and stability (long history)
  • Strong performance in stressed environments
  • Mid-maturity (120 days to physiological maturity)
  • Recommended planting rate: 14,000-18,000 plants per acre
Royal Hybrid® 609 CLP
  • Confection sunflower
  • Clearfield Plus hybrid
  • Very good Clearfield tolerance
  • Improved weed control with MSO
  • Good plantability
  • Very uniform at flowering
  • High yield potential
  • Mid-maturity (119 days to physiological maturity)
  • Recommended planting rate: 14,000-18,000 plants per acre
Royal Hybrid® 208 EX
  • Confection sunflower
  • DuPont ExpressSun hybrid
  • Good plantability and emergence
  • Excellent plant health
  • Good stalk strength
  • Early-mid maturity (118 days to physiological maturity)
  • Recommended planting rate: 14,000-18,000 plants per acre
Royal Hybrid® 207 EX
  • Confection sunflower (long type)
  • DuPont ExpressSun hybrid
  • Good emergence
  • Excellent plant health
  • Early-mid maturity (119 days to physiological maturity)
  • Recommended planting rate: 13,000-16,000 plants per acre
Royal Hybrid® MCA 359
  • Confection sunflower
  • Downy Mildew Tolerant
  • Excellent Stalk Strength
  • Early Maturing
  • Early dry-down
  • 116 days to physiological maturity
  • Good yield potential especially in northern environments
  • Recommended planting rate:  14,000-18,000 
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Seed research and development

CHS is the only major processor that maintains its own hybrid seed division, staffed by seed genetics experts and complete with comprehensive nursery, greenhouse and laboratory facilities. Year after year, we put thousands of hybrids through rigorous lab tests and field trials in order to fine-tune the most desirable characteristics based on customer input and market demand. Traits like rich flavor, firm kernels, large size and unique shaping, not to mention improved yields and consistent quality. And all our sunflower seed development is free from any genetically modified source.

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