Nearby and new crop NuSun and high oleic prices have been firm the past two weeks remaining unchanged this week as well. NuSun nearby prices are trading $1.85-$2.35, with high oleic $1.70-$2.25 per cwt. higher than a year ago at this same time. Sunflower planting continues in all states and is slightly ahead of last year at this same time but remains behind the five-year average in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Planting progress in the High Plains states continues to be aided by good planting conditions and is significantly ahead of last year and the five-year average. In the past week, producers made excellent progress and planted an additional 272,350 acres pushing 2020 planted acres to about 506,000 acres. This represents 34% of this year’s projected planted acres and is behind the five-year average of 46%. Drier and warmer than normal weather conditions are forecast for the Dakotas and Minnesota and should allow for good planting progress in the week ahead. On the CBoT, commodities have been trading higher on optimism about demand as the U.S. dollar continued to weaken, making U.S. products more attractive to overseas buyers. Traders are also are keeping an eye on U.S.-China trade relations. China has told state-owned firms to halt purchases of soybeans, pork, corn, and cotton from the United States. Despite this announcement some purchases have occurred leaving traders to think this just another case of saber rattling in the long running trade tiff.