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.