Old sunflower prices were unchanged to up 25 cents with new crop unchanged to up 25 cents this week. October new crop prices are trading in a range of $23.30-$23.80 cash with AOG at $22.00-$23.30 at the crush plants. Deferred new crop contracts are offering premiums above these prices. Something else to consider when looking at new crop prices are the oil premiums that crush plants pay on sunflowers. 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. Sunflower planting continues in all states and is ahead of the five-year averages in Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota. South Dakota and Texas is behind the five-year average planting pace. In the past week, producers made excellent progress and planted an additional 192,960 acres pushing 2026 planted acres to about 580,000 acres. This represents 44% of this year’s projected planted acres and is ahead of the five-year average of 35%. Last year at this same time 39% of total projected acres were planted. In the next two weeks weather conditions are expected to be favorable for planting with above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. Sunflower planting should pick up speed as growers across the U.S. finish sowing activities.
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 $23.30 cash and $22.80 AOG. Cargill is at $23.80 cash and 23.30 AOG. Colorado Mills is at $22.00 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 $22.60 contract increases to $24.85 and the cash $23.55 contract moves up to $25.90.
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