Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Feb 12 2018
USDA to Survey Producers’ 2018 Planting Intentions
What’s on the horizon for U.S. famers in 2018 as they finalize plans for planting this spring? The March Agricultural Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey approximately 84,000 of the nation’s farmers to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season. NASS will mail the survey questionnaire in February, asking producers to provide information about the types of crops they intend to plant in 2018, how many acres they intend to plant, and the amounts of grain and oilseed stored on their farms. NASS encourages producers to respond online or by mail. Those producers who do not respond by the deadline may be contacted for a telephone or personal interview. NASS will compile and analyze the survey information and publish the results in the annual Prospective Plantings report and quarterly Grain Stocks report, both to be released on March 29, 2018.
2018 NSA Gold Award Nominations
Nominations are being accepted for the 2018 NSA Gold Award. Click here for the eligibility and criteria for the award. Nominations must be received by February 23, 2018.The NSA Board of Directors will review all submitted applications and choose a winner. The Gold Award will be presented during the NSA Summer Seminar, set for June 26-28, 2018 in Alexandria, MN.
NSA Scholarship Available
The National Sunflower Association is seeking applications for the Curtis Stern Memorial Scholarship. In tribute to the dedicated work of Curtis Stern, an industry advocate and former NSA board member, the NSA Board of Directors established a memorial scholarship in his name. Funds assist students who study in the field of agriculture with a special emphasis on sunflower production, promotion, or research. Application deadline is April 1, 2018. $4,600 is available for the scholarship this year. Preference will be given to students who are in their last two years of undergraduate studies or in graduate level studies and have maintained at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0=A scale. Application deadline is April 1, 2018. A total of $4,600 is available for the scholarship this year. Click here for more information and to apply. Contact Tina Mittelsteadt with any questions.
Markets
According to the latest USDA Supply and Demand report, U.S. soybean and wheat ending stocks are getting bigger, while the corn stocks tighten. For soybeans, the USDA set the U.S. 2017/18 ending stocks more than the trade expected at 530 million bushels versus the average trade estimate of 496 million bushels, this compares to last year’s total of 302 million bushels. The report confirmed the trend of demand for wheat, soybeans and corn are beginning to draw down on supplies, but supplies remain enormous by historical standards.  USDA lowered the Argentina soybean crop but raised the Brazil crop.  Nearby prices at the crush plants ended the week mixed at down 20 cents to unchanged. Birdfood prices were down about 25 cents this week. Seed deliveries to processing plants have be
heavy the past few weeks and this is leading to some weakness in nearby prices. 2018 new crop sunflower prices have remained firm in a range of $17.00-$18.05. The USDA Risk Management Agency is in the discovery process in determining 2018 crop insurance price elections for sunflower. The current price election for oils is $17.60 with confection at $23.80. To follow the direction for sunflower price elections, watch the 2018 CBoT December soyoil contract during the month of February. Export news and South American weather will continue to be the main market movers.
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