Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Jan 21 2020
NDSU Crop Compare Program updated
North Dakota State University Extension has updated the Crop Compare program for 2020. Crop budgets for 2020 are showing both confectionary and oil sunflowers among the top earners.  
Crop Compare is a spreadsheet designed to compare cropping alternatives. The program uses the direct costs and yields from the 2020 projected crop budgets for nine regions of North Dakota, but producers are encouraged to enter the expected yields and input costs for their farm. The user designates a reference crop and enters its expected market price. Depending on the region, a broad selection of nine to 18 crops are compared. The program provides the prices for competing crops that would be necessary to provide the same return over variable costs as the reference crop. Click here to see the spreadsheet. 
 
 
FMC names new president/CEO
Effective June 1, Mark Douglas will take over as the president and CEO for FMC. Pierre Brondeau will continue as chairman and CEO through the end of May. Douglas, who is already FMC president, has been with the company since 2010.
Monitor moisture of binned seeds
If you’ve got some of last year’s sunflower crop stored in bins, make sure you keep an eye on the seeds’ moisture level. The maximum recommended moisture content for stored sunflower is 9.5% through the winter months and 8% ifthe storage period is longer than about six months. It’s also important to check the sunflower weekly and make sure you check the sunflower, not the bin. Check by getting into the storage each time and walk, feel, smell and probe the seeds. Remember, walking around in filled bins can be dangerous, so take extra precautions. Click here for more storage tips.
Bob Majkrzak’s retirement celebration
Bob Majkrzak will be honored for his 35 years of dedication to Red River Commodities with an open house on Thursday, January 30 from 4-8 p.m. at NDSU McGovern Alumni Center, 1241 N. University Drive in Fargo, ND.
Nominations invited for NSA Gold Award
Every year, the National Sunflower Association presents its Gold Award to an individual who has contributed extraordinarily to the overall sunflower industry, either through his or her occupation or through the National Sunflower Association. This award is considered to be the highest award that the NSA presents to individuals. The award has been given since 1989. Some past Gold Award winners include John McLean, Larry Kleingartner, Duane Berglund, Sen. Mark Andrews, Chuck Moses, Jim Krogh, Gary Fick and Joe Caroline. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 NSA Gold Award. Click here for the eligibility and criteria requirements. Nominations must be received by February 14, 2020. The NSA Board of Directors will review all submitted applications and choose a winner. The Gold Award will be presented during this year’s NSA Summer Seminar, set for June 23-25 in Spearfish, SD.
Plan now to attend the 32nd annual CCTA High Plains No-Till conference
The Colorado Conservation Tillage Association’s High Plains No-Till conference will be held February 4-5, 2020 at the Community & Education Center in Burlington, CO. Click here for more information and to register. Sessions will cover soil health, no-till, regenerative grazing, marketing, ag technology, business management and more. The NSA’s High Plains committee will have a booth – stop by and sign up to win an iPad!
Upcoming Events
February 4-5, 2020  
CCTA Conference, Burlington, CO
 
March 12, 2020
NSA High Plains Committee Meeting, Goodland, KS
 
June 23-25, 2020 – NSA Summer Seminar, Spearfish, SD
Markets
The rally in sunflower prices at the crush plants took a breather last week as nearby prices finished the week down 10 cents to unchanged. Nearby sunflower prices have climbed almost $2.00 per cwt during the recent rally. 2020 new crop prices have also increased by around $1.50 per cwt since they rolled out this past fall. The U.S. Senate passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. Passage of USMCA is positive news for the sunflower market as it will maintain duty free access for all sunflower products in the Canadian and Mexican markets. Canada is the largest export market for U.S. sunflower oil and sunflower kernel. Mexico is the second largest export market for in-shell seed and kernel. The President also signed the Phase One agreement with China last week. Traders are uncertain over whether the partial trade agreement between the U.S. and China will lead to substantially higher sales based on the details that were released. China agreed to increased purchases of U.S. agricultural products, but only as demand allows. Chinese purchases will be based on domestic demand and commodity prices around the world. Plus, China did not make any specific commitment to alter its tariffs on U.S. products as part of Phase One. This left the market looking for real evidence that China will follow through on its pledges of more purchases, and in big amounts.
Weekly Prices Recorded on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 ($/CWT)
  Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2020 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil Nearby 29.06 33.65 32.75 -.90 33.84
Fargo, ND NuSun 17.00 19.90 19.90 NC 18.90
Fargo, ND High Oleic 17.00 20.15 20.15 NC 19.40
Enderlin, ND NuSun 16.60 19.90 19.80 -.10 18.90
Enderlin, ND High Oleic 17.25 20.10 20.00 -.10 19.40
Goodland, KS NuSun 16.55 18.55 18.55 NC 18.70
Goodland, KS High Oleic 17.65 19.30 19.30 NC 19.50
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 Tuesday, January 21, 2020
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)
  Last Year Last Week This Week Change
Soybean Oil 28.26 33.45 32,25 -1.20
Cotton Oil (psby) 35.06 40.95 39.75 -1.20
Corn Oil 30.00 39.00 39.00 NC
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