Search

Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Apr 17 2017

Health Canada Seeking to Phase out PHOs

Health Canada is seeking comment from citizens and industry stakeholders regarding a proposed ban on partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in foods. Comments will be accepted until June 21, 2017. Health Canada, the agency that oversees national public health policy in Canada, says Canadians are consuming fewer trans fats today but more needs to be done to reduce Canadians’ intake of trans fats. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Canada. Health Canada said eliminating trans fats in all foods sold in the country “is a significant and final step” in the agency’s efforts to reduce trans fats in the Canadian food supply “to the lowest possible level.” The ban would go into effect one year later after the regulation is finalized, Health Canada said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2015 determined that there no longer is a consensus among qualified experts that PHOs, the primary dietary source of industrially produced trans fatty acids, are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for any use in human food. Food companies have until June 18, 2018, to remove PHOs from their products in the United States. As the food industry moves toward PHO-free baking, one of the most attractive options is high-oleic oils and blends—a leading example being high-oleic sunflower oil.

Dr. Febina Mathew Receives Faces of the Future Award

Assistant Professor and Field Crops Pathologist at South Dakota State University, Dr. Febina Mathew has been chosen for the Schroth Faces of the Future Award in Host Resistance and Host/Pathogen Interactions from the American Phytopathological Society. Mathew’s research on Phomopsis stem canker of sunflower will be the focus of her talk at the Schroth Faces of the Future Symposium at the organization’s annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas in August. This group is a community of scientists who dedicate themselves to managing crop diseases to ensure safe and sustainable food, feed, fiber, and fuel. Mathew’s research on Phomopsis stem canker is vital to producers of sunflowers not only in South Dakota but also in the other sunflower producing states of the U.S. such as Minnesota, North Dakota and Nebraska.

Register Now for Summer Seminar

Registration is now open on our website for the 2017 NSA Summer Seminar. This year’s Summer Seminar is the 35th annual. It will be held June 27-29, 2017 at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn in Rapid City, South Dakota. Register now, as prices will increase closer to the event. Register online here. A block of rooms has been reserved there for June 27-28. To make your reservation, click here.  Enter your check-in and check-out date. You also need to enter SA1 in the group code box. You can also call the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn at 605-348-4000 and book your room. The block of rooms is listed under National Sunflower Association. Contact Tina with any questions.

Sign Up for E-Publications

Would you like to get a link to a digital copy of Sunflower Highlights each week in your email? It's easy! Click here to sign up. You can also sign up for a digital copy of our magazine, The Sunflower, there. And for sunflower prices at various locations, click here.

Upcoming Events

June 27-29, 2017 – NSA Summer Seminar, Rapid City, SD   January 10-11, 2018 – NSA Research Forum, Fargo, ND

Markets

The South American soybean crop continues to get bigger. Last week, USDA increased Brazil's soybean production by 3 million metric tons to 111 million metric tons (MMT), near the high of the pre-report analyst estimates and above estimates by the Brazil's government agricultural agency Conab. USDA also increased Argentine soybean production by 500,000 metric tons to 56 MMT, which was in line with traders’ expectations. With the increases in South American soybean production, USDA raised global soybean production for 2016-17 by 5.18 MMT and boosted global soybean ending stocks by 4.59 MMT as well. These figures came in well above the pre-report estimated highs. USDA also bumped up U.S. soybean ending stocks for 2016-17 by 10 million bushels to 445 million bushels. With the anticipated large increase in US soybean acres most traders believe soybean prices will trend lower in the months ahead unless there is a major weather event to cause a rally. Old and new crop sunflower prices have been relatively firm at unchanged to up 5 cents in the past week. There is still time to take advantage of the market opportunities that sunflowers can offer as crush plants are still offering Act of God (AOG) and cash new crop contracts. NuSun and high oleic sunflower prices top most crops, when you add in the oil premium paid at the crush plants.

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, April 17, 2017 ($/CWT)   Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2017 NEW Crop Chicago Oil Nearby 33.95 31.35 31.80 +.45 32.51 Fargo, ND NuSun 16.10 14.90 14.90 NC 16.50 Enderlin, ND NuSun 16.30 14.90 14.95 +.05 16.60 Goodland, KS NuSun 16.10 13.65 13.70 +.05 14.80 Goodland, KS High Oleic 17.10 15.30 15.35 +.05 16.80 Prices recorded here are believed to be reliable at the time of posting. All prices are subject to change. Contact these facilities for complete market details.

U.S. CRUDE OIL VALUES recorded on Monday, April 17, 2017 (dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)   Last Year Last Week This Week Change Soybean Oil 31.70 28.85 29.30 +.45 Cotton Oil (psby) 48.95 37.35 37.80 +.45 Corn Oil 45.50 43.00 43.00 NC