Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Feb 08 2016

2016 CROP INSURANCE PRICES

On February 1, the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) began the discovery process in determining 2016 crop insurance price elections for sunflowers. Producers have the option of choosing Yield Protection, Revenue Protection and Revenue Protection with the Harvest Price Exclusion. All three policies have the same price election. To follow the direction for sunflower price elections, watch the 2016 CBoT December soyoil contract during the month of February. Final price elections will be announced in early March.

SUNBUTTER® ANNOUNCES NEW ROASTING PROCESS

SunButter® LLC is now dry roasting sunflower kernel on new top of the line roasting equipment. SunButter® Sunflower Butter will now be produced in one continuous process from field to table that will ensure a fresh roasted flavor, improved product consistency, and a finished product that is free from all of the top eight food allergens. SunButter® produced on the new equipment will arrive on store shelves in the spring of 2016 and the packages will carry a “Now Soy Free” burst. For more information, visit www.SunButter.com.

UPCOMING ND COUNTY ELECTIONS

Growers are invited to attend elections in their county for the sunflower representative to the North Dakota Oilseed Council. Elections are being held in several areas this month. Here's a list by county:

Hettinger County February 9, 8:30 am - Enchanted Castle, Regent
Stark County February 9, 12:45 pm - Immanuel Church, Taylor
Adams County: February 16, 1:30 pm - Borderline Bar and Grill, Reeder
Pembina County: February 17, 9:00 am - Pembina County Courthouse, Cavalier
Williams County: February 17, 10:00 am - Williams County Extension, Williston
Sioux County: February 17, 1:00 pm - Branding Iron, Selfridge
Mountrail County: February 17, 2:00 pm - Mountrail County South Complex, Stanley
Ramsey County: February 18, 9:45 am - KC Hall, Devils Lake
Burke County: February 18, 11:30 am - American Legion, Powers Lake
Morton County: February 23, 1:00 pm - Morton County Fairgrounds, New Salem
McHenry County: February 22, 10:00 am - Star City Golf Course, Velva

FEBRUARY ISSUE OF THE SUNFLOWER IS ONLINE

Find the February 2016 issue of The Sunflower on our website, www.sunflowernsa.com/magazine. This issue includes the latest on insuring sunflower for 2016, how sunflower producers on limited irrigation can save the most water without hurting yields, and how a new Vermont company that's producing a selling cold-pressed sunflower and canola oil. Read all those stories and more in this month's issue of The Sunflower.

NSA GOLD AWARD

Every year the NSA presents the Gold Award to an individual who has contributed extra-ordinarily to the overall sunflower industry, either through their occupation or through the National Sunflower Association. This award is considered to be the highest award that the NSA presents to individuals. The award has been given every year since 1989. Past Gold Award winners include John McLean, Larry Kleingartner, Duane Berglund, Senator Mark Andrews, and Chuck Moses. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2016 NSA Gold Award. Visit www.sunflowernsa.com/all-about/gold-award/ for the eligibility and criteria requirements. Nominations must be received by February 19. The NSA board of directors will review all submitted applications and chose a winner. The Gold Award will be presented during the NSA Summer Seminar, set for June 28-30 in Bismarck, ND.

FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH

This month is American Heart Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and prevention. It is the perfect time to add sunflower oil to your diet. Sunflower oil produced in the United States is naturally trans fat-free and is low in saturated fat. For more on the health benefits of sunflower oil, visit www.sunflowernsa.com/oil/.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 29-June 3, 2016 - 19th Annual International Sunflower Conference, Edirne, Turkey
June 28-30, 2016 - 2016 NSA Summer Seminar, Bismarck, ND

MARKETS

Sunflower prices ended the week mixed. Old crop prices were down 5 to 10 cents while new crop was down 25 to up 20 cents at the crush plants. Sunflower prices are being supported by CBoT soyoil which continues to gain on soymeal with support coming from higher palm oil prices. Vegetable oil markets have trended higher on expectations for falling production of palm oil due to El Nino. Otherwise it is quiet in terms of market moving news. Some traders think prices have likely bottomed, and will do little until producers start planting the 2016 crop this spring. On Tuesday, USDA will release its latest Supply and Demand report. There is talk that USDA could raise US 2015/16 corn, soybean and wheat carryout. Exports are lagging due to slow demand and this could build stocks further. February is the critical development month for oilseeds in South America. South American weather is mostly favorable with rains due in Argentina. Talk of better Brazil weather could increase harvest pace there. The USDA S/D report, South American weather and crop progress will be the main market movers in the week ahead.

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, February 8, 2016 ($/CWT

	Deliver	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change	2016 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil	Nearby	32.01	30.76	30.75	-.01	31.37
Fargo, ND	NuSun	19.10	16.70	16.65	-.05	17.00
Enderlin, ND	NuSun	19.05	16.80	16.70	-.10	16.80
Goodland, KS	NuSun	19.85	16.45	16.35	-.10	16.45

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, February 8, 2016
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)

	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change
Soybean Oil	31.51	29.01	28.75	-.26
Cotton Oil (psby)	47.01	45.76	45.75	-.01
Corn Oil	36.50	42.00	42.00	NC