Sunflower prices continue to remain strong at the crush plants. October and November prices are in the range of $23.00-$26.50 per cwt depending on the location. 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. For example, the $26.00 contract increases to $28.60 when the oil premium is added. Another week of largely clear weather allowed sunflower harvest progress to advance. About 26% of sunflowers were in the bin as of last week, up from 16% seven days earlier and equal to the prior five-year average of 26% for this time of year, the USDA said. In the past week, producers harvested an additional 122,905 acres pushing 2026 harvested acres to about 329,390 acres. Weather in the next two weeks is expected to remain warmer than average with a slight chance of precipitation in the sunflower growing region. This will aid in getting the harvest done in a timely manner.
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