Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Jan 13 2020
2020 Research requests total over $345,000
The National Sunflower Association received 14 research proposals for 2020, totaling $345,107. The NSA Research Committee met last week to review the proposals and make recommendations for the NSA Board of Directors. The NSA Board will make final decisions on funding during their annual spring meeting in late February. Proposed projects include studies of insects, disease, weeds and production.
NSA Research Forum attracts large crowd
More than 100 growers, industry representatives and researchers attended the National Sunflower Association’s 42ndannual research forum January 8-9 in Fargo, ND. Researchers presented papers and posters on their work. Attendees heard presentations on weeds, insects, disease and new varieties of sunflower. All presentations will be uploaded to the NSA website in the next few weeks.
Win an iPad!
The NSA’s High Plains committee will be giving away an iPad at each of these upcoming ag shows:
  • Cover Your Acres, Oberlin, KS – January 14, 15, 2020 
  • CCTA Conference, Burlington, Co – February 4-5, 2020
For a chance to win, producers must stop by the NSA High Plains booth and register. Winners will be publicized after the shows.
2019 North Dakota Sunflower Variety Trial results and selection guide now online
The North Dakota Sunflower Trial Results for 2019 and selection guide are now available online. Producers can find data about Hybrid performance through the state and information about yield and other information needed for accurate selection of sunflower hybrids for agricultural production in North Dakota. Click here to see the guide. 
Markets
The rally in sunflower prices continues at the crush plants with nearby prices adding another 10 to 55 cents with 2020 new crop adding another 15 to 20 cents. USDA released its latest estimate of the 2019 US sunflower crop. Production totaled 1.94 billion pounds, down 8 percent from 2018. The US average yield per acre of 1,562 pounds decreased 169 pounds from 2018. Planted area, at 1.35 million acres, was 4 percent above the previous year. Area harvested increased 2 percent from 2018 to 1.24 million acres. United States production of oil-type sunflower varieties, at 1.75 billion pounds, decreased 7 percent from 2018. Production of non-oil sunflower varieties was estimated at 197 million pounds, a decrease of 10 percent from 2018. The production estimates for both oil-type and non-oil sunflower were above industry expectations given the difficult 2019 growing season. High moisture seed and cold weather hampered harvest progress in the largest production area of the Dakotas and Minnesota. Twenty percent of the crop is still in field at higher than normal moisture rates that may cause quality problems and yield reductions. The soggy weather conditions have led to quality problems with Sclerotinia and dark roast becoming major factors in confection seed quality. Based on the figures USDA released last week, the unharvested area and expected production were included in the totals published in the report, so take these figures with a grain of salt.
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