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Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Jul 24 2017

Crop Progress

Sunflower fields are beginning to bloom; North Dakota reports 15 percent of that states sunflowers are blooming. In Kansas, 14 percent of the crop is reported blooming. Kansas also reports 65 percent of the sunflower crop is in good to excellent condition.

Crop Progress - Monday, July 24, 2017 State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average North Dakota         Blooming 15 9 21 14 South Dakota         Blooming 5 NA 17 12 Kansas         Blooming 14 7 18 15

Crop Conditions - Monday, July 24, 2017 State Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent North Dakota 19 18 39 23 1 South Dakota 11 27 58 4 0 Minnesota 0 0 11 71 18 Colorado 0 9 34 54 3 Kansas 0 3 32 62 3

NSA Submits Comments for NAFTA Talks

The Trump Administration has rolled out its objectives for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. The 17-page report focuses on the President’s push to reduce the trade deficit with Mexico and “must break down barriers to American imports.” That would include eliminating unfair subsidies, market-distorting practices by state-owned enterprises, and restrictions on intellectual property. Regarding agriculture, the goals state ‘to maintain existing reciprocal duty-free access for agricultural goods.” Currently, all U.S. sunflower products enjoy duty-free trade with Canada and Mexico. The National Sunflower Association has submitted comments in support of maintaining this status in the future to maintain and build our market share. With the current state of the U.S. agricultural economy, American farmers can’t afford to lose access to these markets. Negotiations could begin as early as August 17, 2017.

Start Scouting for Banded Sunflower Moth and Red Sunflower Seed Weevil

As sunflower fields begin to bloom, adults of red sunflower seed weevil (RSSW) will be emerging soon and will fly to the nearest flowering sunflowers. RSSW are small (2.5 to 3.1 mm long) with a snout and are reddish-orange. Banded sunflower moth can be identified by its small size (1/4 inch long) and its forewings with a triangular, dark brown band across the middle of the wing. Once the decision to treat has been made, it is critical to time the spray application correctly to get effective management of all sunflower head insects including RSSW, BSM, sunflower moth, and Lygus bug. The best sunflower plant stage to treat is when the majority of the plants are in the R5.1 growth stage (when pollen shed on 10% of the outer rim of the sunflower head) in a field. Click here to read more about scouting for insects and the best treatments on our website. Click here to learn more about the 2017 Action Thresholds for both insects. Please see the 2017 ND Field Crop Insect Management Guide for insecticides registered in sunflower.

The 2017 Ag Horizons Conference will be held December 4-6, 2017 at the Ramkota River Centre’ in Pierre, SD. This year’s conference will include six keynote speakers, 24 educational one-hour seminars, and new this year, industry seminars. Click here to learn more and register for the event.

Upcoming Events

July 27, 2017 – Friends and Neighbors Day, USDA-ARS, Mandan, ND August 16, 2017-NSA High Plains Meeting, Goodland KS January 10-11, 2018 – NSA Research Forum, Fargo, ND June 26-28, 2018 – NSA Summer Seminar, Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria, MN

Drought is maintaining its grip on the Northern Plains states with no relief in sight. In the past week, a larger area of the US sunflower production region has slid into a moderate to severe drought situation with some areas now considered in exceptional drought conditions, the highest category. This has led to market prices heating up for birdfood and at the crush plants. The birdfood prices in some locations topped $20.00 per cwt last week. Birdfood prices have increased about $3.50-$4.75 per cwt since mid-June. Nearby prices at the crush plants have gained $3.55 per cwt since the market low was set. When USDA released its acreage report last month they pegged the harvested acres to decrease 21 percent from last year. Sunflower is very drought tolerant. However, rain will be needed soon as the plants move from the vegetative to the reproductive stage. If drought conditions persist yield reductions in the hardest hit areas of the Dakotas will most likely occur tightening seed stocks. Also, this week, the dollar tumbled to its lowest level in more than a year.  The decline in the dollar gives importers more purchasing power and boosts the attractiveness of U.S. products to overseas buyers. This could lead to new export business in the months ahead. Weather and demand news will control price direction from this point onward.

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, July 24, 2017 ($/CWT)   Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2017 NEW Crop Chicago Oil Nearby 29.46 33.01 33.61 +.60 34.05 Fargo, ND NuSun 16.90 17.10 17.50 +.40 16.60 Enderlin, ND NuSun 16.85 17.05 17.55 +.50 16.70 Goodland, KS NuSun 16.35 NQ 14.95 ---- 16.65 Goodland, KS High Oleic 17.35 NQ 16.60 ---- 18.15 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, July 24, 2017 (dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)   Last Year Last Week This Week Change Soybean Oil 26.96 31.51 32.11 +.60 Cotton Oil (psby) 44.46 39.01 36.61 -2.40 Corn Oil 45.75 41.50 41.50 NC