Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Oct 16 2017
Crop Progress
Sunflower harvest in Minnesota is 21 percent complete, which is 12 days behind average, but the Minnesota sunflower crop is rated 84 percent good to excellent.
Crop Progress - Monday, October 16, 2017
State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average
North Dakota        
Mature 93 81 93 91
Harvested 12 4 21 24
South Dakota        
Bracts Yellow 96 85 89 ----
Mature 84 62 81 ----
Harvested 15 10 37 26
Minnesota        
Harvested 21 6 48 46
Colorado        
Harvested 1 ---- 10 25
Kansas        
Petals Dry 93 88 94 96
Bracts Yellow 83 77 87 88
Mature 69 55 72 70
Harvested 5 4 24 22
Texas        
Harvested 65 59 65 70
Crop Conditions - Monday, October 16, 2017
State Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent
North Dakota 7 12 43 36 2
South Dakota 4 23 47 23 3
Minnesota 0 1 15 62 22
Colorado 1 1 12 62 24
Kansas 1 3 26 56 14
Grower Report
Mohall, ND producer Jeff Oberholtzer is hoping to get started harvesting his 1,600 acres of high oleic sunflower later this week. He says after desiccating the crop a few weeks ago, a hard freeze last week has left the flowers nearly ready for harvest. 
Sunflower Disease/Pest Guild Discounted Price Available
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Call for Papers
We’re looking for research papers to be presented at the NSA Research Forum, set for January 10-11, 2018 in Fargo, ND. Presentations may be either oral or in the form of a poster. A time will be designated for authors to be with their posters and answer questions. Each oral presentation will be limited to 10-12 minutes with 2-3 minutes allowed for questions. Click here if you are interested in presenting a paper. You do not have to submit the actual paper or poster at this time, just the information indicated online and the author information. Submissions must be completed by November 15, 2017.
Upcoming Events
December 5-6, 2017 - Ag Horizons, Pierre, SD
January 10-11, 2018 – NSA Research Forum, Fargo, ND
June 26-28, 2018 – NSA Summer Seminar, Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria, MN
Markets
Last week USDA issued its first production estimate of the 2017 sunflower crop.  USDA estimates that sunflower producers will harvest 1.81 billion pounds, down 32 percent from the revised 2016 production of 2.65 billion pounds. USDA shaved off 3 million pounds from 2016 non-oil sunflower production.  2016 oil-type production was left unchanged. Estimated 2017 area planted is 1.40 million acres, which is up 11 percent from the June estimate but down 12 percent from last year. Harvested acres were pegged at 1.35 million, up 11 percent from June but down 12 percent from the 2016 acreage. The October yield forecast, at 1,339 pounds per acre, is 392 pounds lower than last year’s record high yield and will be the lowest since 2006, if realized. The biggest unknown for this year has been the drought impact on production in the Dakotas, the largest sunflower producers. USDA forecasts that average yields in the Dakotas are down more than 500 pounds per acre compared with last year due to drought conditions. South Dakota sunflower production is expected to be 879 million pounds while North Dakota’s production is forecast to fall to 459 million pounds. Lower yields are expected in 5 of the 8 major sunflower production states compared with last year. A record high yield is forecast in Texas with Minnesota expected to see a yield increase as well. The next production estimate will be released in January.
Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, October 16, 2017 ($/CWT)
  Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2017 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil Nearby 35.44 33.02 33.59 +.57 34.07
Fargo, ND NuSun 16.60 16.90 16.95 +.05 18.00
Enderlin, ND NuSun 16.80 16.70 16.85 +.15 NQ
Goodland, KS NuSun 16.10 16.65 16.80 +.15 NQ
Goodland, KS High Oleic 18.10 17.65 17.80 +.15 NQ
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, October 16, 2017
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)
  Last Year Last Week This Week Change
Soybean Oil 33.94 30.61 31.09 +.48
Cotton Oil (psby) 45.44 32.02 32.59 +.57
Corn Oil 45.50 37.50 37.50 NC
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