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Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Aug 07 2016

Crop Progress

Sunflowers are blooming far ahead of schedule in all reporting states. In North Dakota, 84 percent of the sunflower crop is reported blooming, well ahead of the average of 51 percent. 73 percent of North Dakota's sunflowers are rated in good to excellent condition.

Crop Progress - Monday, August 8, 2016 State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average North Dakota         Blooming 84 59 72 51 South Dakota         Blooming 56 32 45 29 Kansas         Blooming 59 38 29 42

Crop Conditions - Monday, August 8, 2016 State Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent North Dakota 1 5 21 67 6 South Dakota 0 13 38 45 4 Minnesota 2 3 38 50 7 Colorado 0 3 25 64 8 Kansas 0 2 28 64 6

Sunflower Insect Update

Continue to scout for red sunflower seed weevils, and banded sunflower moths/sunflower moths in sunflowers until fields reach the R5.7 crop stage (70% of the head area has completed or is flowering). Field reports indicate that populations of red sunflower seed weevil are above the economic threshold levels (4-6 weevils per head for oilseed sunflowers or only 1 weevil per head for confection sunflowers) in southwest ND and central SD. Up to 50 weevils per head have been observed in some hot spots. Banded sunflower moth also is high in the north central and northwest ND.

Grasshoppers Increasing Out West

Adult grasshoppers are starting to move into rows crops, such as flax, corn and sunflowers, as the cereal grains are starting to dry down and be harvested, and ditches are hayed. Field reports of high grasshopper populations have come in mainly from the southwest area of ND. Grasshoppers are primarily still feeding in the field edges and have not moved far into fields. Most grasshoppers are in the adult stage with wings, so they are much more mobile and can fly in search of later maturing ‘green’ crops to infest. Leaf stripping is the main feeding injury to sunflowers caused by grasshoppers. Hot and dry weather conditions will favor grasshopper population increases. Grasshoppers will be active until the first hard frost, so continue to scout for grasshoppers until the fall. The economic threshold for adult grasshoppers is 8-14 per square yard in field and 21-40 per square yard in field margins. For insecticides recommendation by crop, please consult the 2016 ND Field Crop Insect Management Guide. Remember to observe the pre-harvest Intervals (PHI) for insecticides as we get closer to harvest time.

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 R-6 stage. An infestation on the upper leaves at R-6 or later will not likely have a negative yield affect. Fortunately, rust can be managed with well-timed fungicide applications. Click here to read more about rust.

Upcoming Events

November 29-30, 2016 - Ag Horizons, Pierre, SD January 11-12, 2017 – NSA Research Forum, Fargo, ND June 27-29, 2017 – NSA Summer Seminar, Rapid City, SD

Markets

Sunflower prices have bucked the negative price trend adding 25-55 cents as oil values gained on meal. The majority of the US sunflower crop is rated in good to excellent condition and yield estimates appear to be above average at this time. Strong crop ratings and a generally favorable weather forecast for August continues to hang over the market ahead of this week's production estimate from USDA. CBoT soybean prices tumbled again last week as traders continue selling long contracts and take more weather premium out of prices. USDA continues to rate the majority of the US soybean crop in good to excellent condition. This has given the green light to private market analysts to increase the size of the soybean crop from previous estimates leading to a bearish tone on the CBoT. There are even some in the trade that are thinking the final yields and production figures will be higher than current estimates. Traders are expecting USDA to make a modest increase in their estimate this week. The weather forecast continues to feature generally favorable conditions throughout the Midwest with no significant hot and dry conditions during the next ten days. Weather conditions will be key going forward as August is the most important month for oilseed crops. The market will continue to trade weather and demand news this week.

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, August 8, 2016 ($/CWT)   Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2016 NEW Crop Chicago Oil Nearby 30.41 29.75 30.93 +1.18 31.42 Fargo, ND NuSun 20.80 17.00 17.30 +.30 17.80 Enderlin, ND NuSun 20.40 16.95 17.50 +.55 17.90 Goodland, KS NuSun 18.35 16.45 16.70 +.25 17.85 Goodland, KS High Oleic 20.35 17.45 17.70 +.25 19.60 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, August 8, 2016 (dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)   Last Year Last Week This Week Change Soybean Oil 30.16 27.50 28.68 +1.18 Cotton Oil (psby) 47.49 44.87 46.01 +1.14 Corn Oil 44.50 45.75 45.75 NC