In many states, the easiest way to market sunflower
is to the birdseed market. Sunflower producers can
sell to a regional birdseed packager, to a local retail
store, or sell directly off their farm already packaged
for consumers. In theory, birdseed prices should be
unaffected by what happens in the vegetable oil market,
but unfortunately they are, at least at the wholesale
level. Sunflower oilseed prices, including birdseed,
follow soybean prices. Farmers that directly sell
their own packaged birdseed obviously have more
control over their pricing, but still have to keep an
eye on competitors’ prices.