Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Nov 19 2018
Crop Progress
Harvest continues in reporting states. Minnesota reports 90 percent of the sunflower crop harvested, slightly behind the average 95 percent. In South Dakota, 63 percent of the sunflower crop is reported harvested, well below the 93 percent average.
Crop Progress - Monday, November 19, 2018 
State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average
North Dakota        
Harvested 74 68 86 88
South Dakota        
Harvested 63 55 88 93
Minnesota        
Harvested 90 83 96 95
Kansas        
Harvested 71 63 85 89
Colorado        
Harvested 72 56 86 88
Texas        
Harvested 86 82 86 86
Seed Quality
High Plains 2018 2017
Oil Content 41.3% 39.23%
Foreign Material 4.9% 6.1%
Moisture 8.0% 7.9%
Test Weight 28.0 lbs 28.4 lbs
Northern Plains 2018 2017
Oil Content 44.0% 43.5%
Foreign Material 3.6% 3.3%
Moisture 8.9% 8.9%
Test Weight 31.5 lbs 31.0 lbs
Register Now for the 2019 NSA Research Forum
Registration is open for the 2019 NSA Research Forum, scheduled for January 9-10, 2019 at the Holiday Inn (3803 13thAvenue South, Fargo). Click here to  register for the forum at the early bird price of $130. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn at a nightly rate of $98 plus tax. The block will be held until December 9, 2018. Call the Holiday Inn at 877-282-2700 and identify National Sunflower Association.  
Markets
Sunflower prices at the crush plants ended the week unchanged. Birdfood prices continue to see little movement in either direction. Sunflower harvest continues to slowly move along in the US. Most states are trailing the five-year average harvest pace per USDA. Wet and below normal cold weather has hampered harvest progress in the largest production area of the Dakotas and Minnesota. In the past week, producers harvested an additional 87,000 acres pushing 2018 harvested acres to almost 798,000 acres. This represents 70% of this year’s projected harvested acres and is behind the five-year average. Last year at this time 84% of the crop was harvested. Yields are being reported in the 1,500-2,800 pound range with some reports over 3,500 pounds. Seed quality remains generally very good. On the CBoT, traders are concerned about US soybean export demand and a mostly favorable South America weather outlook. This has led to choppy trade on most days. With the USDA November production estimate in the market and harvest wrapping up in the Northern Hemisphere attention will continue to be more focused on demand news and to South America's oilseed production prospects.For most commodities, producer selling will likely slow down given current pricing unless storage is an issue with the hope of a rally occurring later this year or early 2019.
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