GRAFTON (AP) - Officials are optimistic about research projects to address diseases in sunflowers. But they're less bullish about the threat from blackbirds.

Larry Kleingartner, executive director of the National Sunflower Association in Bismarck, says successful research has gone toward confection sunflowers and now the effort is shifting to sunflowers used for oil.

He says much progress is being made battling sunflower diseases while increasing yields and oil content.

Kleingartner says less progress is being made in blackbird control. He says cattail control is a high priority. Cattails are a the birds' preferred place to nest.