Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Feb 05 2018
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, the NSA Board of Directors established a memorial scholarship in his name. Funds assist students who study in the field of agriculture with a special emphasis on sunflower production, promotion, or research. 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, 2018. A total of $4,600 is available for the scholarship this year. Applications can be submitted online; click here to learn more. Contact Tina Mittelsteadt with any questions.
2018 NSA Gold Award Nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2017 NSA Gold Award. Click here for the eligibility and criteria requirements. Nominations must be received by February 23, 2018. The NSA board of directors will review all submitted applications and choose a winner. The Gold Award will be presented during the NSA Summer Seminar, set for June 26-28, 2018 in Alexandria, MN.
Research Presentations Available Online
If you weren’t able to attend this year’s NSA Research Forum in Fargo, ND, you can still learn about the latest sunflower research. Power Point Presentations of all the reports given at the forum can now be found on the NSA website under the “research” tab. Click here to see this year’s presentations. For a historical look, all presentations dating back to 2008 are available there as well. Researchers from the Dakotas, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa and Canada presented a total of 24 papers and 11 posters at this year’s Research Forum.
Upcoming North Dakota County Elections
Growers are invited to attend elections in their county for the sunflower representatives to the North Dakota Oilseed Council. Elections are being held in several areas this month. Here’s a list by county:
  • Logan County: February 5, 11:45 a.m., Downtowner, 310 Main Street, Napoleon
  • Burleigh County: February 6, 9:00 a.m., Bismarck Event Center, Rm 101 (Prairie Rose), 315 S 5th St, Bismarck
  • Rolette County: February 20, 9:00 a.m., Rolette County Extension Office, 102  2nd ST NE, Rolla
  • Eddy County: February 20, 205 3rd St SE, New Rockford
  • Benson county: February 22, 10:00 a.m., Benson County Courthouse Courtroom, 311 B Ave S, Minnewaukan
  • McIntosh County: February 23, 12:00 p.m., Wild Rose Café, Ashley
  • Sheridan County: February 28, 1:00 p.m., McClusky City Hall, 117 B Ave N, McClusky
District elections will be held in March.
ND Producer to be Featured on “State Plate”
Last summer NSA First Vice President and Bismarck, ND area producer Clark Coleman was gracious enough to host a film crew from the TV show “State Plate.” The episode featuring Clark and sunflower pie will be on Friday February 9 at 7:00 PM on the INSP channel. Click here to learn more about the show.
Upcoming Events
February 6-7, 2018 –  CCTA Conference, Burlington, CO
June 26-28, 2018 – NSA Summer Seminar, Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria, MN
Markets
Traders remained focused on export news and weather in South America. Exports for US soybeans remain disappointing and continue to lag behind last year and USDA projections. Some feel USDA could raise US 2017/18 soybean carryout on their February 8 report but they may wait to see final South America supply before lowering final US exports. If this is realized it could weigh on new crop prices. Talk of a chance of rain across parts of Argentina and drier northern Brazil weather has also had an influence on price direction. Weak palm oil values have pressured CBoT soyoil prices keeping a lid on sunflower prices at the crush plants. Nearby prices ended the week mixed at down 15 cents to unchanged. Birdfood market remains rather quiet and prices were unchanged as well. On February 1, the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) began the discovery process in determining 2018 crop insurance price elections for sunflower. 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. The current price election for oils is $17.70 with confection at $23.90. To follow the direction for sunflower price elections, watch the 2018 CBoT December soyoil contract during the month of February. Final price elections will be announced in early March. US export demand and South American weather will be the main market movers in the near term.
Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, February 5, 2018 ($/CWT)
  Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2018 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil Nearby 34.44 32.87 32.50 -.37 33.23
Fargo, ND NuSun 14.70 17.60 17.45 -.15 18.00
Fargo, ND High Oleic NQ 17.45 17.35 -.10 18.00
Enderlin, ND NuSun 15.50 17.30 17.15 -.15 18.05
Enderlin, ND High Oleic NQ 17.30 17.15 -.15 18.05
Goodland, KS NuSun 14.25 16.70 16.70 NC 17.00
Goodland, KS High Oleic 15.90 17.70 17.70 NC 18.00
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 5, 2018
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)
  Last Year Last Week This Week Change
Soybean Oil 32.14 31.07 30.70 -.37
Cotton Oil (psby) 42.44 30.87 30.50 -.37
Corn Oil 43.50 35.00 35.00 NC
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