Nearby prices were down 25 cents to unchanged with new crop prices down 20 cents to unchanged this week at the crush plants. USDA released its first estimate of 2026 planted acres. Sunflower growers intend to plant 1.39 million sunflower acres in 2026, an increase of 8 percent from last year’s planted area. Compared with last year, growers in five of the eight major sunflower producing states expect an increase in planted acreage this year. Area intended for oil type varieties, at 1,294,000 acres, is up 9 percent from 2025. Area intended for non-oil varieties, estimated at 91,500 acres, is down 8 percent from last year. The soybean planted area for 2026 is estimated at 84.7 million acres, up 4 percent from last year. Corn planted area for 2026 is estimated at 95.3 million acres, down 3 percent from last year. Spring wheat acreage is expected to decrease to 8.78 million acres, down 6 percent from last year, with durum decreasing 11 percent from last year to 1.95 million acres. USDA also released the quarterly Grain Stocks report. Corn stocks were pegged lower than the average trade expectation while soybeans and wheat were pegged higher. The March acreage and grain stocks reports will guide the market as we head into the planting season. It will also give farmers a look at what others are thinking of planting this year and may adjust their plans. The March numbers rarely match final acreage estimates for the year. Weather always has the final say in final acreage outlays and a lot can change in the next several weeks.
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 $23.10 cash and $22.60 AOG. Cargill is at $22.80 cash and 22.30 AOG. Colorado Mills is at $22.20 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 $22.30 contract increases to $24.50 and the cash $23.10 contract moves up to $25.40.
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