Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: May 30 2017

Crop Progress

Planting is ahead of average in many reporting states. Minnesota growers have already planted 85 percent of the sunflower crop, ahead of the average 64 percent. In North Dakota, 58 percent of the crop is planted, and 13 percent is already emerged.

Crop Progress - Tuesday, May 30, 2017

State	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	5 Year Average
North Dakota
Planted	58	31	64	42
Emerged	13	NA	18	NA
South Dakota
Planted	30	12	28	19
Kansas
Planted	7	2	3	11
*Texas*
Planted	59	53	40	62
Minnesota
Planted	85	70	91	64
Colorado
Planted	5	4	14	14

Syngenta Launches New Seed Treatment Fungicide

Syngenta has launched PLENARIS™ seed treatment fungicide for the control of downy mildew in sunflower. PLENARIS™ contains oxathiapiprolin*, a novel chemistry with a new mode of action for control of fungal diseases caused by oomycetes. Downy mildew (Plasmopara halstedii) is the key seedling disease of sunflower causing severe stunting, discoloration of the leaves and reduction in root growth. Infected seedlings do not form a flowering head and consequently severely reducing yield. PLENARIS™ will be first commercialized in the U.S. in 2017 followed by Argentina.

Researchers Publish the First Sunflower Genome Sequence

An international team of researchers has published the first sunflower genome sequence. This new resource will assist future research programs using genetic tools to improve crop resilience and oil production. Their findings are published in the journal Nature. The research team in North America and Europe sequenced the genome of the domesticated sunflower Helianthus annuus L. The research will help understand the molecular mechanisms underlying key traits related to abiotic stress resistance like drought, salinity and low nutrient resistance. This genome sequence will essentially serve as a genetic road map to pinpoint the genes underlying these sorts of traits. The authors concluded that this research reinforces the sunflower as a model for ecological and evolutionary studies and climate change adaptation, and will accelerate breeding programs.

CHS Names New President/CEO

CHS Inc. has named a new president and CEO. Jay Debertin succeeds Carl Casale, who led the cooperative for the past seven years. Debertin is originally from East Grand Forks and has been with CHS since 1984. Previously, Debertin was the executive vice president and chief operating officer for the CHS energy operations and processing food business.

NSA Summer Seminar Rate Increases June 3

If you haven’t registered for this year’s Summer Seminar yet, do so now, before the price goes up! The 35^th Annual Summer Seminar will be held June 27-29 in Rapid City, SD. Click here to register online. Registration will increase to $350 on June 3, so register now!

Honoring Former USDA Secretary Schafer

A bill to rename the Red River Valley Agricultural Center in Fargo, ND, as the Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center passed the House on a voice vote. North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer sponsored the bill to recognize the former agriculture secretary and governor. “It is a world-class facility in a world-class town. I think it should be named after a world-class guy.” A companion bill has been introduced in the Upper Chamber by Senator John Hoeven and co-sponsored by Senator Heidi Heitkamp.

Upcoming Events

June 27-29, 2017 – NSA Summer Seminar, Rapid City, SD
January 10-11, 2018 – NSA Research Forum, Fargo, ND

Markets

At the CBoT, talk that wet weather could reduce US final corn acres has offered resistance to soybean prices. Traders are thinking that If US farmers are unable to plant intended corn acres they could shift to soybeans. US/World 2017/18 soybean supply outlook already looks burdensome and this would add to the stockpile. This dropped soybean prices to their lowest level since early April. Soy complex prices were also pressured by talk of lower soymeal demand and a drop in China soybean crush margins. There was talk that China may cancel some open US soybean sales leading traders to be concerned with lower Chinese export demand in the near term. Traders continue to the watch the political turmoil in Brazil as well. There is anxiety that if the Real continues to weaken it could trigger an increase in farmer selling and flood the pipeline with cheap soybeans and take away US export opportunities. Sunflower prices followed the price action on the CBoT at distance and ended the week mixed at down 20 cents to unchanged at the crush plants. Sunflower planting is moving along at or ahead of the five-year average. The two-week weather forecast in the US sunflower production region should allow for normal completion of planting. Weather and planting progress will remain the biggest short term question marks for traders.

Weekly Prices Recorded on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 ($/CWT)

	Deliver	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change	2017 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil	Nearby	31.82	32.94	31.42	-1.52	31.95
Fargo, ND	NuSun	16.95	15.00	15.25	+.25	16.60
Enderlin, ND	NuSun	17.00	15.15	15.10	-.05	16.40
Goodland, KS	NuSun	16.95	14.05	13.80	-.25	14.65
Goodland, KS	High Oleic	17.95	15.70	15.45	-.25	16.65

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, May 30, 2017
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)

	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change
Soybean Oil	29.57	30.44	28.92	-1.52
Cotton Oil (psby)	46.83	38.94	37.42	-1.52
Corn Oil	45.50	41.50	41.50	NC