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Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Jul 25 2016

Crop Progress

Minnesota's sunflower condition rated 57% good to excellent, up 6% from last week. In the Dakotas, sunflower fields are beginning to bloom: 22% of North Dakota's sunflowers are reported blooming, and 18% in South Dakota. Kansas also reports 20% of the sunflower crop in that state are blooming.

Crop Progress - Monday, July 25, 2016 State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average North Dakota         Blooming 22 13 20 12 South Dakota         Blooming 18 11 6 11 Kansas         Emerged 96 94 94 96 Blooming 20 9 13 15

Crop Conditions - Monday, July 25, 2016 State Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent North Dakota 1 5 24 65 5 South Dakota 0 4 49 46 1 Minnesota 2 4 37 50 7 Colorado 0 1 28 63 8 Kansas 0 3 27 65 5

Sunflower Genome Decoded

Scientists from INRA (France) have completed the sunflower reference genome sequence. For the first time, the sunflower's DNA has been completely decoded. In other words, all of its genetic material (or its genome) has been analyzed, assembled and mapped. The mapping of the sunflower genome opens up new opportunities for identifying genes of agronomic interest, or those with prospects in industry or food production. This information will enhance the effectiveness of sunflower breeding programs and will provide farmers with new varieties that are better adapted to production methods, food production, and industrial uses, while also responding to economic changes.

AAK Acquires CalOils

AAK has acquired Richmond, California-based California Oils Corporation, also known as CalOils, from Mitsubishi Corporation, Tokyo. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  CalOils’ product line includes a variety of oils, including high-oleic and mid-oleic sunflower oil. With the acquisition of CalOil’s facility in Richmond, AAK now owns four production sites in the United States. The other sites are located in Edison and Port Newark, New Jersey, and in Louisville, Kentucky. AAK is headquartered in Sweden, and has 20 different production facilities in more than 25 countries.

Grower Report

It’s been a hot few days for Sharon, North Dakota area producer Ben Vig. With temps near 100 degrees, he says his 190cres of high oleic sunflower are looking good. He expects his sunflower will be blooming in the next couple of days. He has missed out on heavy rain and hail that has hit many producers in his area of North Dakota.

Friends and Neighbors Day at USDA-ARS Mandan Site

The public is invited to celebrate Friends and Neighbors Day at the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory from 2:00 – 5:30 p.m. on Thursday July 28. You can learn about local ag research, take a tour, and check out the exhibits researchers have been working on. The lab is located south of the Heart River on ND Highway 6 at 1701 10th Ave. SW in Mandan, ND.

Upcoming Events

July 28, 2016 – Friends and Neighbors Day, USDA-ARS Mandan, ND November 29-30, 2016 - Ag Horizons, Pierre, SD January 11-12, 2017 – NSA Research Forum, Fargo, ND June 27-29, 2017 – NSA Summer Seminar, Rapid City, SD

Markets

The markets have been tough for most crops since the first of this month. Old and new crop sunflower prices have mainly traded sideways following CBoT soyoil values to some degree but at a distance. Traders continue to take weather risk out of the market. CBoT soybean values have been trimmed by almost $2.00 bushel in the past three weeks. Soybean prices have been impacted by favorable Midwest weather conditions and a possible decline in Chinese imports. With 71% of the US soybean crop rated in good to excellent condition coupled with favorable weather, the market is backing off the weather premium that was put in place this spring. Forecasts into August remain cooler and wetter, with the new NOAA 30-day forecast showing little threat to what looks like a good crop so far. According to Oil World, China’s soybean imports may fall for the first time in 15 years next season as the government sells from carryover stocks and domestic production climbs. The government will reportedly sell about 4.3 million tons from stocks accumulated in the past few years. This has resulted in sluggish forward buying for arrival this fall. It’s that time of year when we are entering the critical timeframe for oilseeds so the market will continue to trade weather and demand news in the week ahead.

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, July 25, 2016 ($/CWT)   Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2016 NEW Crop Chicago Oil Nearby 30.11 30.94 29.46 -1.48 29.96 Fargo, ND NuSun 21.30 17.20 16.90 -.30 17.50 Enderlin, ND NuSun 22.95 17.10 16.85 -.25 17.50 Goodland, KS NuSun 18.25 16.60 16.35 -.25 17.50 Goodland, KS High Oleic 20.25 17.60 17.35 -.25 19.25 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, July 25, 2016 (dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)   Last Year Last Week This Week Change Soybean Oil 29.36 28.44 26.96 -1.48 Cotton Oil (psby) 47.11 45.94 44.46 -1.48 Corn Oil 43.00 45.75 45.75 NC