You can now add sunflowers to list of crops being seeded in southern Manitoba.

Daryl Rex, agronomist with the National Sunflower Association of Canada, says planting is just getting underway.

Rex notes Statistics Canada is expecting to see about 50,000 acres of sunflowers grown in Manitoba this year, the lowest its been in quite some time. He attributes rising soybean acres to the drop in sunflowers.

Rex has a bit of advice for farmers who are seeding sunflwers.

“Basically for your larger seeded crops, don't try and go any deeper than two inches,” he said.

He also touches on some issues with insects.

“This season with things starting to dry out, I'd be definitely watching for cutworms in the field.”

Rex says the cold temperatures at night shouldn't be a concern for growers, adding some rain would be a welcome sight for farmers in the dryer regions.