The Web page, mapserver.abeng.ndsu.nodak.edu/sunflower, incorporates information from the annual USA sunflower survey conducted each September in all of the major sunflower-producing states and represents the work of dozens of people involved in the survey. This interactive Web site allows users to customize the content displayed on the maps as well selecting the map area, according to North Dakota State University Extension Service geospatial specialist John Nowatzki. The National Sunflower Association enlists Nowatzki and other personnel at the NDSU Ag and Biosystems Engineering Department to prepare the maps in geographic information systems (GIS) software and make them available on the Web using Internet mapping software.

Web site users can display contour maps of sunflower yields, pest infestations and crop damage for each state. The maps display the locations and level of infestations of each weed, insect or disease that affects the sunflower crop across the country. The Web site allows users to query each map to identify the information collected at each survey location. The survey information collected at each site is available to view online or to download as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file. Displayed maps can be saved for use in other computer display or presentation software programs. Similar maps and data from the 2001 and 2002 USA Sunflower Surveys are also available.

Survey information used on the Web site was collected from 193 locations in the six leading sunflower-producing states by volunteers from various sectors of the sunflower industry. Volunteers included growers, extension and research personnel from state universities and government research stations, and sunflower product suppliers and processors.

The volunteers surveyed one field for each 10,000 acres of sunflowers grown per county. They estimated yield and plant population and determined sunflower class (oil or confection), use of certain cultural practices, weed intensity, insect damage, bird damage, lodging, and disease infection. In addition, seeds from each field surveyed were sampled for subsequent laboratory determination of insect damage to the seed. The location of each field surveyed was marked using a hand-held GPS unit.

The National Sunflower Association, 4023 State St., Bismarck, ND 58501-0690, coordinates the USA Sunflower Survey. Art Lamey, NDSU Extension Service plant pathologist, emeritus, assembles the data for the survey from each state. Nowatzki prepares GIS spatial maps for the survey and makes the information available on the Web.

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