Nearby prices were unchanged to up 55 cents at the crush plants last week. It’s the busiest time of year across the sunflower growing region as farmers finish up planting spring 2026 crops and begin crop protection activities over the next few weeks. Planting is nearing the finish line for sunflowers. As of June 21, 95% of expected 2026 sunflower acreage was in the ground, up from 83% from the week prior and ahead of the five-year average of 90%. On June 30, USDA will release its latest planted acres report. In the March intentions report producers indicated they planned to increase oil acres by 9% with confection acres down 8% from last year. Traders are anxious to confirm if this change in acres occurred or is higher than USDA estimates. If the March numbers come about U.S. sunflower production is forecast to be 2.4 billion pounds, which would represent an increase of 4% from last year. The higher production is based on an increase in planted area from 1.29 to 1.39 million acres and trend yields for oil type and confection sunflowers. Oil type sunflower production is projected to increase to 2.2 billion pounds, up 4% from MY 2025/26. Look for demand news and position squaring ahead of USDA’s acreage report to guide the market this week. USDA’s acreage report will be the main driver in the market following its release.
ADM Enderlin, Cargill West Fargo and Colorado Mills crush plants are offering 2026 new crop cash and Act of God (AOG) High Oleic contracts. ADM is at $23.60 cash and $23.10 AOG. Cargill is at $23.65 cash and 23.15 AOG. Colorado Mills is at $22.00 AOG. Something else to consider is the oil premiums that crush plants pay on sunflowers. Sunflower is the only oilseed that pays premiums for oil content above 40%. Considering oil premiums that are offered at the crush plants on oil content above 40% at a rate of 2% price premium for each 1% of oil above 40%; this pushes a contract with 45% oil content gross return 10% higher per cwt. The AOG $23.10 contract increases to $25.40 and the cash $23.65 contract moves up to $26.00.
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