Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: May 29 2018
Crop Progress
Minnesota producers report 78% of the sunflower crop planted; that's well ahead of the average 59%, but behind last year's 83%. In North Dakota, 36% of the sunflower crop is reported planted; that's on track with the average of 37%
Crop Progress - Tuesday, May 29, 2018
State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average
North Dakota        
Planted 36 12 54 37
South Dakota        
Planted 28 13 27 17
Kansas        
Planted 16 7 4 6
Colorado        
Planted 9 1 5 8
Texas        
Planted NA 34 59 62
Minnesota        
Planted 78 NA 83 59
Grower Report
It’s been unseasonably warm in northwestern Minnesota. Crookston, Minnesota producer Kevin Capistran says there have been several 90-degree days already. He finished planting 240 acres of Nusun last week, just in time for a timely ¾-inch of rain. 
North Dakota Producer Selected for Farm Crop Insurance Board
North Dakota producer Michael Clemens has been selected to serve as a Farm Industry board member on the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors. ND Senator John Hoeven recommended Clemens, who runs a family farm outside of Wimbledon, ND, for the position. Clemens has run the family farm for nearly 40 years and has helped with the development and support of various crop insurance policies through his work with the sunflower and corn grower associations. Clemens is a past president of the National Sunflower Association. The FCIC helps facilitate a stable agriculture economy by promoting the necessary research and expertise to devise and implement crop insurance. The board is also responsible for approving new policies and plans or any modifications to current crop insurance plans.
Summer Seminar Rate Increases June 3
If you haven’t registered for the 2018 NSA Summer Seminar, do it now, before the price goes up! Registration is $300, but will increase to $350 on June 3, 2018. Registration at the door will be $400.  This year’s Summer Seminar will be held June 26-28, 2018 at the Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria, Minnesota. Click here to register on our website at . You’ll find our tentative schedule there too, as well as hotel information and more. A block of rooms has been reserved there for June 25-28. There’s a link on our website, under “Hotel Information” to make your reservation. The room block will be released May 25, 2018 but may fill up much faster so don’t wait! The program is being finalized now and more information will be coming soon. Check the NSA website for further updates. Contact Tina Mittelsteadt with any questions.
Reducing Blackbird Damage
A good strategy to reducing blackbird damage is to plant as early as possible and desiccate the crop. In many cases producers, have been able to get the crop all harvested before the birds even move in. We are beyond the earliest planting dates for all counties in Minnesota and North Dakota, so there is no need to wait to plant this year’s sunflower crop. Why take a chance when it comes to blackbirds when you can have a good sunflower crop? Maximize your return by planting early and get it harvested as soon as possible. Cash and Act of God contracts are still available at the plants.
Upcoming Events
June 26-28, 2018 – NSA Summer Seminar, Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria, MN
January 9-10, 2019 – NSA Research Forum, Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND 
Markets
Old crop prices continued to move higher at the Northern crush plants gaining 25 cents and hitting $18.15 this week. This is the new market high for this marketing year. Birdfood prices in some locations have begun to move up as well. Nearby prices for oil-type sunflower are up about 20 percent from a year ago. Last year at this same time, ample supplies, strong deliveries by producers and a large old crop inventory kept the pipeline full at the crush plants keeping a lid on prices. That’s not the case this year as a smaller 2017 crop coupled with smaller beginning stocks has the industry using up stocks to meet demand. New crop prices are also significantly higher. Last year at this same time new crop NuSun prices were in a range of $14.70-$16.60 with high oleics at $16.70-$17.00. Looking at current new crop prices this represents an increase of $2.15-$3.00 for NuSun prices and $1.75-$2.15 for high oleics versus last year. This positive price trend should continue through the rest of the 2017/18 marketing year. With oilseed planting well under way the markets will begin to trade US weather and crop progress conditions to a greater degree. Traders will also be anxiously watch headlines regarding the delegation of leading US officials visiting China in early June trying to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing US/China trade spat.
Weekly Prices Recorded on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 ($/CWT)
  Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2018 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil Nearby 31.42 31.42 31.21 -.21 32.01
Fargo, ND NuSun 15.25 17.90 18.15 +.25 18.75
Fargo, ND High Oleic NQ 17.80 18.05 +.25 18.75
Enderlin, ND NuSun 15.10 17.90 18.10 +.20 18.70
Enderlin, ND High Oleic NQ 17.90 18.10 +.20 18.90
Goodland, KS NuSun 13.80 17.20 17.20 NC 17.70
Goodland, KS High Oleic 15.45 18.20 18.20 NC 18.85
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, May 29, 2018
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)
  Last Year Last Week This Week Change
Soybean Oil 28.92 29.62 29.41 -.21
Cotton Oil (psby) 37.42 29.42 30.21 +.79
Corn Oil 41.50 34.00 34.00 NC
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