Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Jan 22 2018

Update from Sclerotinia Initiative Meeting

Reports from researchers at the annual meeting of the National Sclerotinia Initiative held last week in Minneapolis indicate that positive progress is being made on this difficult disease. The disease affects most broadleaf crops and requires multiple genes for resistance. The greatest progress is being made with improved genetics. Resistant genes are being identified in a number of wild sunflower species. Transferring those genes to cultivated sunflower is the present task. The Initiative is federally funded and includes other crops such as soybean, canola, peas, lentils, and edible beans. Researchers from 14 different states are involved in projects and there is a great deal of collaboration among universities and USDA-ARS researchers.

Nominations Being Accepted for 2018 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 since 1989. Past Gold Award winners include John McLean, Larry Kleingartner, Duane Berglund, Senator Mark Andrews, Chuck Moses, and Joe Caroline. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 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.

High Plains Winter Conferences Coming Up

Two long-running High Plains area conferences will be held in the next two weeks. No-Till on the Plains conference is January 30-31 in Wichita, KS. Click here for more information. The Colorado Conservation Tillage Association’s High Plains No-Till Conference in Burlington, CO is February 6-7. Click here for details or to register. The NSA’s High Plains committee will be at both shows, and will give away one iPad per show, so if you attend, make sure you visit the High Plains booth.

Advanta Seeds Opens New Biotechnology Center

Advanta Seeds, a global agriculture company specializing in seeds and agricultural solutions, has opened a new state-of-the-art biotechnology facility in College Station, Texas. The new biotechnology center is a result of a partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, headquartered at Texas A&M University in College Station. The center will accelerate Advanta Seeds research and development capabilities for the company’s key crops: sorghum, corn, vegetables, sunflower, canola, and rice.

Upcoming Events

January 30-31, 2018 – No-Till on the Plains, Wichita, KS
February 6-7, 2018 – CCTA Conference, Burlington, CO
June 26-28, 2018 – NSA Summer Seminar, Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria, MN

Markets

Sunflower prices at the crush plants ended the week mixed at down 5 cents to unchanged. Traders are digesting the recently released 2017 US sunflower production figures. Total sunflower production added up to 2.17 billion pounds, down 18 percent from 2016 but up 19 percent from the October forecast. Despite the drought in the Dakotas last year, sunflower yields in the United States were the third highest on record. The United States average yield per acre of 1,613 pounds decreased 118 pounds from 2016. But in North Dakota, where many growers saw severe drought, the average yield declined only 80 pounds from 2016, to 1,636 pounds per acre. US production of oil-type sunflower varieties, at 1.86 billion pounds, representing a decrease of 22 percent from 2016. Production of non-oil sunflower varieties was estimated at 312 million pounds, an increase of 10 percent from last year. The non-oil production estimate was within trade expectations but the oil-type figure exceeded industry estimates. The market now has a figure to work from when determining needs for 2018 acres. Most crushers and processors are out with 2018 oil-type and confection contracts. The remaining companies should be out with new crop prices soon now that the 2017 crop size is known. On the CBoT traders are monitoring U.S. export demand, South American weather, world farmer sales, and carryout levels. The dollar also remains a key force in the markets.

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, January 22, 2018 ($/CWT)

	Deliver	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change	2018 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil	Nearby	35.13	32.79	32.16	-.63	32.80
Fargo, ND	NuSun	14.70	17.60	17.60	NC	18.00
Fargo, ND	High Oleic	NQ	17.50	17.50	NC	18.25
Enderlin, ND	NuSun	15.45	17.40	17.35	-.05	18.00
Enderlin, ND	High Oleic	NQ	17.40	17.35	-.05	18.00
Goodland, KS	NuSun	14.45	16.70	16.65	-.05	16.95
Goodland, KS	High Oleic	16.10	17.70	17.65	-.05	17.95

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, January 22, 2018
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)

	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change
Soybean Oil	33.13	30.94	30.36	-.58
Cotton Oil (psby)	43.13	31.79	30.16	-1.63
Corn Oil	43.50	36.50	35.00	-1.50