Nearby sunflower prices at the crush plants ended the week unchanged to up 15 cents with 2026 new crop unchanged. Birdfood prices continue in an upward trend depending on location. A year ago, nearby sunflower prices were trading around $20.00 at the crush plants. What a difference a year makes as reduced acreage, and production in 2024 along with low beginning stocks in October of this year have led to little harvest pressure this year. Nearby prices are $1.25-$1.30 per cwt. higher this year versus last year at this time. It is very possible that the market low has already been established, and prices will remain relatively firm for the foreseeable future. USDA will release its supply and demand report this week. Traders are anticipating there won’t be any significant changes to corn, soybean and wheat production, stocks and usage. Surveying is currently underway for the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) annual crop production report. Yield and acreage adjustments will likely be included in the January 2026 annual crop production report release. The report will feature a final estimate of 2025 sunflower yield, acreage, and production. The USDA Grain Stocks report released that day will also provide fresh insights to final 2024/25 usage figures that will determine 2025/26 beginning stocks numbers. In the near term, the market will be closely watching export demand news and South American oilseed production prospects which will 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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