Alex Babich has grown record-breaking sunflowers before. But this year, with one towering plant named Clover stretching 26 ...

Very favorable weather conditions in the past two weeks have allowed sunflower producers to make good harvest progress. Acres harvested advanced 9% to 87% complete for the week ending November 26.

Sunflower seeds and their oil are core exports for Ukraine, which in 2020/2021 produced 31 percent of all global sunflower oil, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

The Millers hope to finish sunflower harvest in the next couple of weeks. In addition to sunflower, Grant and his dad grow canola, spring wheat, soybeans and corn and raise about 100 head of cattle.

Harvest them too early and you won't get enough oomph in the sunflower seeds inside their shells. Wait too long and there's a chance something else will get to those seeds first.