Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Dec 12 2016
EPA Approves DuPont LumisenaTM Fungicide Seed Treatment for Sunflowers and Soybeans
DuPont has received registration approval from the Environmental Protection Agency for DuPontTM LumisenaTM fungicide seed treatment. Lumisena improves crop establishment and stand uniformity by controlling Phytophthora in soybeans and downy mildew in sunflower crops. In sunflowers, DuPont trials showed seed treated with Lumisena™ fungicide seed treatment had 76 to 96 percent less downy mildew compared to untreated seed and 20 to 41 percent less downy mildew compared to conventional fungicide seed treatments. Likewise, university trials showed sunflower seed treated with the active ingredient in Lumisena™ fungicide seed treatment produced plants with significantly less downy mildew versus existing fungicide seed treatments. Lumisena™ fungicide seed treatment has a favorable environmental profile, given its ability to deliver highly effective pathogen control at extremely low use rates. DuPont Pioneer will have wide-scale demonstration plots of Lumisena™ fungicide seed treatment during the 2017 growing season, and it will be commercially available in 2018. The National Sunflower Association funded a portion of the research to make this product available to producers and industry.
David & Sons to Close Fresno Plant
David & Sons, a tiny Fresno, CA company, is shutting its doors and moving production to the Midwest. David & Sons was founded in 1926 by David Der Hairbedian, an Armenian immigrant, and became one of the nation’s leading roasters of pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Conagra bought the company in 2001 from Nestle, USA Inc., reinforcing David’s status as one of the top brands of snacking seeds in the U.S.  Conagra officials say they’re closing the Fresno plant due to a tightening in the industry and a need to reduce costs. Production will be transitioned to the company’s plant in Waterloo, IA. About 75 people work at David & Sons plants in Fresno. The plant is expected to close in the spring. Employees were told of the planned closure last May.
Nebraska Researchers Receive Grant for Phomopsis Research
Researchers in Nebraska have received a grant to be used for Phomopsis research. The grant was awarded through the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program. Researchers will look at ways to reduce losses to sunflower growers due to Phomopsis stem canker disease.  Researchers will receive $31,000 over two years.
Register Now for 2017 NSA Research Forum
Registration is open for the 2017 NSA Research Forum, scheduled for January 11-12, 2017 at the Ramada Plaza Suites & Convention Center in Fargo, ND. Click here to register online. Pre-registration is $115. Fees increase to $130 on December 28. Registration at the door will be $155.
Holiday Break
This edition of Sunflower Highlights will be the last for 2016. We will return with the weekly newsletter on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. We wish you and yours a happy holiday season!
Seed Quality
High Plains 2016 2015
Oil Content 40.8% 40.0%
Foreign Material 6.3% 6.4%
Moisture 7.5% 8.3%
Test Weight 30.4 bs 31.0 lbs
Northern Plains 2016 2015
Oil Content 43.5% 43.0%
Foreign Material 4.5% 4.4%
Moisture 9.0% 8.2%
Test Weight 30.5 lbs 31.0 lbs
Upcoming Events
January 11-12, 2017 – NSA Research Forum, Fargo, ND
January 18-20, 2017 – NSI Meeting, Minneapolis, MN

June 27-29, 2017 – NSA Summer Seminar, Rapid City, SD
Markets
USDA’s December Crop Production and Supply and Demand reports were basically unchanged from last month with not a single change seen among the three major grains: corn, soybeans and wheat. This means US corn ending stocks held at 2.403 billion bushels, soybean ending stocks at 480 million bushels, and wheat still showed a whopping 1.143 billion bushels. Ending stocks-to-use didn't change either, coming in at 16.4% for corn, 11.7% for soybeans and 50.4% for wheat. It was a different story for world ending stocks. USDA slightly raised already-massive world production numbers for corn, soybeans and wheat from November's estimate. World ending stocks increased due in large part to adjustments in production. The world soybean ending stocks figure came in at 82.9 million metric tons (MMT), as compared to November's 81.5 MMT. With global stocks growing, the market will need to hear about a weather problem in the Southern Hemisphere in order for the market to generate a sustained rally. On a positive note, USDA did increase soyoil biodiesel demand.  Traders are also trying to guess the potential impact if US Fed raises interest rates this month. This could lead to an even stronger dollar and would not be good for US exports. As time goes on, the weight of increased stocks could continue to be felt, particularly if the Federal Reserve does indeed raise interest rates this month.
Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, December 12, 2016 ($/CWT)
  Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2017 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil Nearby 31.30 37.49 36.76 -.73 36.96
Fargo, ND NuSun 17.00 14.60 14.35 -.25 NQ
Enderlin, ND NuSun 16.95 14.90 14.75 -.15 NQ
Goodland, KS NuSun 16.50 14.85 14.60 -.25 NQ
Goodland, KS High Oleic 17.50 16.35 16.10 -.25 NQ
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, December 12, 2016
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)
  Last Year Last Week This Week Change
Soybean Oil 29.37 36.49 35.97 -.52
Cotton Oil (psby) 48.12 47.67 44.97 -2.70
Corn Oil 38.50 44.50 42.50 -2.00
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