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Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Jul 27 2020

Crop Progress

Sunflowers are beginning to bloom; 21% of North Dakota's sunflower fields are reported blooming and 72% of that state's sunflower crop is reported in good to excellent condition.

Crop Progress - Monday, July 27, 2020 State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average North Dakota         Blooming 21 7 19 29 Texas         Harvested 28 16 25 15

Crop Conditions - Monday, July 27, 2020 State Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent North Dakota 1 3 24 62 10 Minnesota 2 4 20 68 6 Colorado 4 24 56 15 1

Examine crop for rust

Rust is most often found on the lower under-side of leaves. The pustules are cinnamon-red and readily recognizable. Yield loss can occur and control measures should be considered when rust reaches approximately 1% severity on the upper four leaves and the plant is in the vegetative stages until it reaches the R6 stage. An infestation on the upper leaves at R6 or later will not likely have a negative yield affect. Fortunately, rust can be managed with well-timed fungicide applications. To learn more about rust, click here.

Grower report

Bruce Speich’s confection sunflowers are starting to bloom. Speich planted about 340 acres of confection ‘flowers on his farm near Wyndmere, ND, in the southeastern corner of the state. He says timely rains have helped the sunflowers and so far he hasn’t seen any insect or disease issues.

Markets

Old crop seed stocks are getting tighter and the recent surge in birdfood prices reflects this. Birdfood prices continued their upward movement this week gaining an additional $1.00-$2.00 per cwt. at some locations. Birdfood bids are trading at $26.50-$30.00 in South Dakota and as much as $28.00 in North Dakota. Nearby NuSun and high oleic prices were unchanged at the crush plants this week. Sunflower seed stocks will be extremely tight by the end of September and should keep old crop prices trending to the upside. Harvest is on-going making good progress in Texas but will not start in earnest until October in the Northern Plains states, where most acres are located. With excellent birdfood and oil demand there is a good likelihood that price premiums will be in place to encourage growers to desiccate and harvest early. U.S. sunflower oil exports to Canada are up 21%, well ahead of a year ago. From October 2019-May 2020, 16,610 metric tons (MT) of sunflower oil has been exported. That compares to 13,516 MT during the same time frame a year ago. Canada and Mexico remain the top two importers and have an additional 23,300 MT on the books to be delivered.Exports plus good domestic demand should keep prices firm at the crush plants in the near term. Weather conditions will come into focus more as we get into Mid-August through September, the critical time frame for sunflower.