Nearby prices are unchanged to up 20 cents with 2026 new crop contracts down 25 cents to unchanged this week. USDA released its latest estimate of the 2025 US sunflower crop with production increasing from last year. According to USDA, 2025 sunflower production totaled 2.32 billion pounds, up 103 percent from 2024. The United States average yield of 1,863 pounds per acre increased 193 pounds from 2024 and set a new record high. Planted area, at 1.29 million acres, was 79 percent above the previous year. Area harvested increased 82 percent from 2024 to 1.25 million acres. North Dakota, the leading sunflower producing state during 2025, produced 1.09 billion pounds, an increase of 111 percent from 2024. Meanwhile, production in South Dakota increased 86 percent from 2024 to 866 million pounds. United States production of oil-type sunflower varieties, at 2.13 billion pounds, increased 126 percent from 2024. Compared with the previous year, harvested acres were up 104 percent and the average yield increased by 184 pounds to a record high of 1,848 pounds per acre. Production of non-oil sunflower varieties was estimated at 189 million pounds, a decrease of 4 percent from 2024. Area harvested, at 92,200 acres, was down 21 percent from 2024. The average yield increased by 354 pounds from 2024. In its grain stocks report, USDA left old crop sunflower seed stocks in all positions unchanged from its September report. Traders will continue to digest these figures and set market direction in the weeks ahead.
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 $22.40 cash and $21.90 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 $22.00-$22.30 contract increases to a range of $24.20-$24.55, and the cash $22.50-$23.00 contract moves up to $24.75-$25.30.
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