Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Feb 18 2020
USDA to survey farmers' planting intentions for 2020
As the 2020 crop production season begins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season. NASS will mail the survey questionnaire in February, asking producers to provide information about the types of crops they intend to plant in 2020, how many acres they intend the plant and the amounts of grain and oilseed stored on their farms. NASS encourages producers to respond online or by mail. Those producers who do not respond by the deadline may be contacted for a telephone or personal interview. Survey results will be published in the Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks report to be released o March 31, 2020. These and all NASS reports are available online; click here to see the reports.
Kansas Sunflower Production meetings scheduled
The High Plains Sunflower Committee, Kansas Sunflower Commission and K-State Research and Extension are together hosting four sunflower production meetings from February 25-27 across the state. The schools will be held in Beloit and Salina on February 25, Argonia on February 26 and in Ulysses on February 27. The schools will feature speakers that address the latest sunflower research results including genetics, fertilizer strategies, planting dates, planting populations, weed, insect and disease management. Sunflower economics and budgets will also be included and industry reps will be discussing marketing opportunities. These programs are available without registration cost. Please reserve your spot by contacting the local K-State Extension Office or register online by February 24. Here are the phone numbers and links to register:
FMC to sponsor annual Curtis Stern Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser
The National Sunflower Association is pleased to announce that FMC will be sponsoring this year’s Curtis Stern Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser. The fundraiser is an annual tradition during the NSA Summer Seminar. The fun event gives participants a chance to win great prizes while contributing to the scholarship fund. This year’s fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, June 23 in Spearfish, South Dakota.
SDSU Extension to host 2020 Agronomy Update
SDSU Extension will hold a 2020 Agronomy Update at the Regional Extension Center in Pierre, SD on Tuesday, March 17. Topics will  include a NDSU Plant Pathologist Michael Wunsch will present on managing Sclerotinia in sunflower and SDSU’s Paul Johnson will talk about weeds and preparing for 2020. Pre-register before March 13; call 603-773-8120 or email ruth.beck@sdstate.edu to register.
NSA scholarship available
The National Sunflower Association is seeking applicants for the Curtis Stern Memorial Scholarship. In tribute to the dedicated work of Curtis Stern, an industry advocate and former NSA board member. Preference will be given to students who are in their last two years of undergraduate studies or in graduate level studies and have maintained at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0=A scale. Application deadline is April 1, 2020. A total of $3,500 is available for the scholarship this year. Applications can be submitted online. Click here to learn more. Contact Tina Mittelsteadt at tinam@sunflowernsa.com with any questions.
NSA Board of Directors meets this week
The National Sunflower Association Board of Directors will meet February 19-20 in Fargo, ND. The meeting’s focus will be primarily on research; the board will decide which research projects to fund. 
Upcoming Events
  • March 12, 2020: NSA High Plains Committee Meeting, Goodland, KS
  • March 17, 2020: SDSU 2020 Agronomy Update, Pierre, SD
  • June 23-25, 2020: NSA Summer Seminar, Spearfish, SD
Markets
Old crop prices were unchanged to up 10 cents this week. New crop NuSun prices were down 10 cents to unchanged with new crop high oleic mixed at down 10 cents to up 15 cents. The crop insurance price discovery process continues for 2020 crop insurance price elections. Oil type sunflowers are at $17.10 and confections are $22.90 per cwt., unchanged from last week. To follow sunflower price election trends, watch the 2020 CBoT December soyoil contract through February 28. Final price elections will be announced in early March. USDA doesn't expect a big bump in soybean prices this year even with the new U.S.-China trade pact set to take effect on February 14. In its monthly report on global farm supply and demand, the department predicted higher soybean exports but lowered expected prices for soybeans by 25 cents a bushel. USDA raised global soybean production slightly to 339.4 million metric tons (MMT) from 337.7 million in January. Brazil is now expected to produce 125 MMT of soybeans, keeping it as the world’s biggest grower, up from last month’s outlook for 123 million. World soybean inventories at the end of the 2019-2020 marketing year are now pegged at 98.9 million metric tons, up from the prior outlook for 96.7 million tons. Traders also are keeping an eye on the spread of the coronavirus. Price gains have been limited due to economic growth concerns in China due to the disease outbreak.
Weekly Prices Recorded on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 ($/CWT)
  Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2020 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil Nearby 29.74 30.62 30.48 -.14 31.92
West Fargo, ND NuSun 17.25 19.90 19.90 NC 18.50
West Fargo, ND High Oleic 17.00 20.10 20.10 NC 18.80
Enderlin, ND NuSun 17.10 19.80 19.80 NC 18.60
Enderlin, ND High Oleic 17.45 20.00 20.00 NC 19.10
Goodland, KS NuSun 16.55 18.65 18.75 +.10 18.70
Goodland, KS High Oleic 17.65 19.40 19.50 +.10 19.65
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 Tuesday, February 18, 2020
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)
  Last Year Last Week This Week Change
Soybean Oil 28.94 30.62 30.38 -.24
Cotton Oil (psby) 35.74 39.62 39.48 -.14
Corn Oil 30.00 39.00 39.00 NC
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