Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Jan 27 2020
2020 research presentations available online
If you weren’t able to attend this year’s NSA Research Forum in Fargo, ND you can still learn about the latest sunflower research. Power Point Presentations of all the reports given at the forum can now be found on the NSA website under the “research” tab. Click here to see this year’s presentations. For a historical look, all the presentations dating back to 2008 are available there as well. Researchers from North and South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, Texas and Iowa presented papers and posters on their work.
NSA Scholarship Available
The National Sunflower Association is seeking applicants 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. 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, 2020. A total of $3,500 is available for the scholarship this year. Applications can be submitted online. Click here to learn more.  Contact Tina Mittelsteadt at tinam@sunflowernsa.com with any questions.
Nominations invited for NSA Gold Award
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. This award is considered to be the highest award that the NSA presents to individuals. 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.
Markets
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 and are at a six-year high. Last year at this same time new crop prices at the crush plants were in a range of $16.75-$17.25 for NuSun with high oleic at $17.20-$18.00. Birdfood prices have also seen some upward movement gaining $1.00 to $1.25 per cwt. Traders continue to debate the impact of the recently signed Phase One US-China trade agreement. Questions have surfaced on whether China will meet that target, particularly since the two governments have said they will keep secret the purchase benchmarks for individual commodities. Plus, China did not make any specific commitment to alter its tariffs on U.S. products as part of Phase One. In addition, the two countries did not arrange to let any disputes go to a neutral arbitrator. Instead, they will try to work out their differences in a series of consultations. If they can’t, the US could impose tariffs and traders fear the deal could unravel. Overall price direction will continue to be determined by South American oilseed production prospects and confirmation from the USDA of China buying US agriculture products. 
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