Nearby prices are unchanged to up 25 cents with 2026 new crop prices unchanged this week at the crush plants. The government shutdown that’s put USDA data on hold has also sent farmer marketing strategies in a state of flux. Sell off the combine, or store grain and try to capture market carry? Difficult decisions are being made as everyone is waiting for an announcement from the Trump Administration on an expected farmer aid package. The administration is expected to soon announce a plan to help out U.S. farmers hit by slumping crop prices and a trade dispute with China, with the initial outlay potentially totaling up to $15 billion. The plan may be difficult to roll out as the ongoing government shutdown prevents the kind of Congressional action needed to approve such a large payout, and existing government reserves fall short. USDA was supposed to release its first estimate of 2025 US harvested sunflower acres and total seed production last week. This did not happen due to the government shutdown. With no USDA reports expected in the near term, traders will continue to monitor harvest progress and yield reports to determine price direction.
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 $22.80 cash and $22.30 AOG. Cargill is at $22.70 cash and $22.20 AOG. Colorado Mills is at $23.00 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 $22.20-$22.30 contract increases to a range of $24.45-$24.55, and the cash $22.70-$23.00 contract moves up to $25.00-$25.30.
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