Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: May 13 2019

N Calculator Available for ND Producers

With fertilizer shortages and producers looking to control costs check out the North Dakota Nitrogen Calculator for sunflower. You can find a link to the calculator here. The calculator uses the new nitrogen recommendations, which have been updated for the first time since the 1970s. There are also new recommendations for phosphorus (P) for sunflower in the Northern Great Plains. The new N and P recommendations are based on general productivity history and not a yield prediction model. N and P recommendations are based on both documented yield responses to each and economic analysis. The NDSU Fertilizing Sunflower Circular SF713 with the new recommendations can be found online here.

Sunflower Provides Assistance in Dealing with Salinity

If you are dealing with fields that have areas of high saline content, planting sunflowers can help turn those areas around. Sunflower is a saline-tolerant crop, meaning if it is planted in a field with a large seep, sunflower would do better than other crops and it’s deep root system helps the soil structure. Those deep roots help get the water out of the soil at a deeper level and remove saline areas in the field. Producers should check with their seed dealers and find out which varieties are the most salt tolerant and appropriate for their growing area. For more information, click here.

Exports of Sunflower Oil Increase

Exports of U.S. sunflower oil are well ahead of a year ago. From October 2018-March 2019, 23,830 metric tons (MT) of sunflower oil has been exported. That compares to 18,652 MT during the same time frame a year ago. Canada remains the top importer, having imported 10,840 MT from October 2018-March 2019. Mexico nearly doubled its imports of sunflower oil from a year ago; Mexico has imported 9,197 MT of sunflower oil from October 2018-March 2019, compared to 4,800 MT from October 2017-March 2019. Australia imported 1,028 MT of sunflower oil from October 2018-March 2019, compared to just 41 MT the previous year.

Registration is now open for our 2019 NSA Summer Seminar, scheduled for June 26-27, 2019. This year’s Summer Seminar will be held in Medora, North Dakota. Click here to register on our website. You’ll find our tentative schedule too, as well as hotel information and more. Pre-registration will begin at $325 and golf at $145, so register early for the best price. A block of rooms has been reserved in Medora. To make your reservation, visit www.medora.com, select hotel reservations and enter check-in and check-out dates. You also need to enter Group Code 5781. Note: The total per/room you’ll see when making your reservation is for your entire stay; it is not a nightly rate. You can also call 1-800-633-6721 and ask for the NSA block of rooms. The program is being finalized now and more information will be coming soon. Contact Tina Mittelsteadt at tinam@sunflowernsa.com with questions.

Reserve Your Tickets for the Medora Musical

While you’re in Medora for the NSA Summer Seminar, bring the family and take in everything there is to do in the historic town. Click here for an exclusive booking link to reserve your seats for the Medora Musical. You can also call 1-800-633-6721 (1-800-MEDORA-1). Ask for reservations and let them know you’re with the National Sunflower Association and want tickets for the June 26 performance. Please book by June 5 to ensure you have access to the group block. After this date, all unused seats will be released to the general public.

Upcoming Events

June 25-27, 2019: NSA Summer Seminar, Medora, ND

Markets

USDA delivered a bearish supply and demand outlook for corn, wheat and soybeans last week. The burdensome supply situation continues to swell with each monthly forecast. USDA pegged the U.S. 2018/19 soybean ending stocks at 995 million bushels versus their previous estimate of 895 million and the trade’s estimate of 920 million bushels. The 100-million-bushel jump was largely due to downward revision in exports. USDA sees the 2018/19 world soybean ending stocks at 113.1 million metric tons (mmt) versus the trade’s average estimate of 111.6 mmt. Trade talks between the U.S. and China yielded little progress last week before the U.S. imposed new tariffs against Chinese imports. The existing 10% tariff on $200 billion in goods rose to 25%, on top of the original $50 billion, with another $325 billion in imports in the line of fire. China’s Ministry of Commerce said that the government is expected to take necessary countermeasures against the U.S. These latest developments cast a dark cloud on future talks and left many wondering how issues critical to both sides can be resolved. Sunflower prices were pressured by increased producer sales to the plants. Old crop prices were down 5 to 20 cents with new crop down 10 to 35 cents. Despite the recent downward movement, sunflower prices are still trading above historical levels. Trading for the next few weeks will focus on 2019 planting progress, export sales, plus US/China trade situation.

Markets

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, May 13, 2019 ($/CWT)

	Deliver	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change	2019 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil	Nearby	31.12	26.84	26.35	-.49	27.34
Fargo, ND	NuSun	17.90	17.30	17.10	-.20	17.50
Fargo, ND	High Oleic	17.80	17.70	17.50	-.20	16.80
Enderlin, ND	NuSun	17.80	17.05	16.95	-.10	16.35
Enderlin, ND	High Oleic	17.80	17.45	17.35	-.10	16.55
Goodland, KS	NuSun	17.10	16.30	16.25	-.05	16.70
Goodland, KS	High Oleic	18.10	17.40	17.35	-.05	17.95

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, May 13, 2109
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)

	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change
Soybean Oil	29.45	25.84	26.01	+.17
Cotton Oil (psby)	29.25	36.13	35.61	-.52
Corn Oil	34.00	29.00	29.00	NC