Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Jul 30 2018
Crop Progress
More than half of North Dakota's sunflowers are blooming; at 54% blooming, that's well ahead of the 26% average for this time of year. In Minnesota, 76% of the sunflower crop is reported in good to excellent; in Colorado, that number increases to 79% and 89% in North Dakota.
Crop Progress - Monday, July 30, 2018
State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average
North Dakota        
Blooming 54 28 31 26
Texas        
Harvested 46 44 4 6
Crop Conditions - Monday, July 30, 2018
State Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent
North Dakota 1 1 9 85 4
Colorado 0 0 24 51 25
Minnesota 0 0 21 74 5
Examine Crop for Rust
Rust is most often found on the lower under-side of leaves. The pustules are cinnamon-red and readily recognizable. Yield loss can occur and control measures should be considered when rust reaches approximately 1% severity on the upper four leaves and the plant is in the vegetative stages until it reaches the R6 stage. An infestation on the upper leaves at R6 or later will not likely have a negative yield affect. Fortunately, rust can be managed with well-times fungicide applications. To learn more about rust, click here.
Grower Report
Clark Coleman’s sunflower fields north of Bismarck, ND are in full bloom. Coleman says the flowers are blooming a bit ahead of schedule—he says that’s probably because of the hot temperatures this summer.  He says hot temps early pushed the plants development forward faster than usual. He says while the sunflowers look good now, he’s hoping for some timely rains in August. Coleman says they scouted for insects and sprayed about a week ago.
Markets
Old and new crop sunflower prices were unchanged this week. In most areas the crop continues to develop ahead of the five-year average pace. In states reporting crop conditions, the crop is being rated at 76 to 89 percent good to excellent condition. There were several developments in trade news this week. USDA announced a plan to direct $12 billion in payments to farmers hit by tariffs, along with mass food purchases and programs to promote US farm goods to new markets. This is envisioned as a "one-time program," according to USDA and will give President Trump and other administration officials some time to complete trade negotiations with other countries. Some in the market viewed the announcement as a clear signal that President Trump is determined to stick with tariffs as his weapon of choice in the trade war. Traders were happy to hear President Trump's announcement that the US and European Union have agreed to work toward zero tariffs, barriers and subsidies. This gave the market a symbolic boost and to some degree tamped down market tension. Traders welcomed the de-escalation in the US/EU trade dispute but did not expect changes in oilseed trade. The EU is already purchasing more soybeans from the US since the June price decline and there are no EU import restrictions on US soybeans which can be removed that could lead to enhanced trade.
return to top of page

   More about Sunflower ►