Nearby prices are unchanged to up 60 cents with 2026 new crop unchanged to up 10 cents at the crush plants this week. At the North Dakota crush plants nearby prices are currently trading about $1.00 per cwt. higher than the 60 day moving average. The crop insurance price discovery process continues for 2026 crop insurance price elections. Oil type sunflowers are $28.30, and confections are $36.20 per cwt. To follow sunflower price election trends, watch the 2026 CBoT December soyoil contract through February 27. Final price elections will be announced in early March. On the CBoT, traders are squaring positions ahead of the next World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report from USDA. Harvest is underway in South America. This will have the trade keeping close tabs on weather conditions, yield, and production forecasts. 2025/26 soybean production in Brazil has most analysts still expecting a bin-busting soybean crop of around 180-182 million metric tons (MMT). That compares with soybean production of 171.5 MMT last year. Argentina is expected to produce 48-49 MMT of soybeans, which is a slight decrease from the previous year. USDA will update its production estimates for Brazil and Argentina this week. Export demand news and South American oilseed production prospects will determine price direction in the near term.
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 and Cargill are at $22.60 cash and $22.10 AOG. Colorado Mills is at $22.75 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 $22.10 contract increases to $24.30 and the cash $22.60 contract moves up to $24.85.
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