Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Sep 11 2018

Crop Progress

Harvest continues in Texas, where 62 percent of the crop is reported harvested. That's ahead of last year's 46 percent.

Crop Progress - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

State	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	5 Year Average
North Dakota
Petals Dry	89	83	82	73
Bracts Yellow	71	58	54	36
Mature	23	14	12	---
Texas
Harvested	62	60	46	43

Crop Conditions - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

State	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
North Dakota	0	7	26	64	3
Minnesota	0	1	31	54	14
Colorado	0	1	28	67	4

Estimating Yields in Sunflower Fields

September is typically an ideal month to estimate sunflower yields. Sunflower yields can be estimated using the tried and true method that is used during the annual sunflower survey. Sunflower should be at R7 stage of growth. To learn more about estimating yield, click here.

Grower Report

Two inches of rain over the Labor Day weekend gave Dickinson, ND producer Art Ridl’s sunflowers a much needed drink. Ridl says the flowers are filling well and look good right now. The backs of the heads are starting to turn yellow, so harvest is a way off for Ridl. He’s got about 1,800 acres of sunflower – about half high oleic and half NuSun – on his farm near Dickinson, in southwest North Dakota.

Markets

Old and new crop seed prices were unchanged last week. Nearby seed prices have started to trade above the 60-day moving average at the crush plants. Sunflower harvest could be starting soon in the Northern Plains as many acres have matured to a point where they can be desiccated and harvested. Getting the crop harvested several weeks early can result in higher yields and lower drying costs. It can also reduce late season crop damage and blackbird damage. The US-China trade war continues to stay on the minds of traders. Both sides have now officially imposed $50 billion in tariffs and the US is looking at another $200 billion in tariffs being put into play at some point this month. Traders are concerned in how China might respond to Washington’s proposed next round of tariffs on a further $200 billion of Chinese imports. Many within the trade are thinking things could get much more intense during the next couple of weeks and without an US and China trade resolution could push prices lower. In addition to watching weather forecasts, CBoT traders are anxiously awaiting the next series of USDA reports that will be released this week. Traders will be looking for USDA to confirm recent private crop estimates. Average trade estimates for US 2018 soybean crop production and carryout are both higher than USDA’s August figures.