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Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Nov 27 2017

Crop Progress

In the last weekly Crop Progress and Condition report for the 2017 growing season, harvest is reported nearly finished in all reporting states. North Dakota reports 93 percent of the sunflower crop harvested, which is on pace for the five year average. South Dakota is on track as well, with 94 percent of the crop reported harvested.

Crop Progress - Monday, November 27, 2017 State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average North Dakota         Harvested 93 87 96 93 South Dakota         Harvested 94 89 99 94 Colorado         Harvested 96 87 96 96 Kansas         Harvested 90 83 94 94 Texas         Harvested 90 87 90 88

Seed Quality High Plains 2017 2016 Oil Content 39.2% 40.8% Foreign Material 6.1% 6.3% Moisture 7.9% 7.5% Test Weight 28.4 lbs 30.4 lbs Northern Plains 2017 2016 Oil Content 42.5% 43.5% Foreign Material 4.7% 4.5% Moisture 9.2% 9.0% Test Weight 30.8 lbs 30.5 lbs

NSA Board of Directors to Meet This Week

The National Sunflower Association’s Board of Directors will gather this week in Bismarck, ND for the annual meeting on November 30-December 1. Agenda items include discussions on crop insurance, the 2017 sunflower survey, grower and industry reports, the association’s budget, as well as product and grower promotion. Officers will also be elected.

Register Now for 2018 NSA Research Forum

Registration is open for the 2018 NSA Research Forum, scheduled for January 10-11, 2018 at the Delta by Marriott in Fargo, ND. Click here to register for the early bird price of $130.

USDA to Measure Final 2017 Row Crop Production and Grain Stocks with End-of-the-Year Surveys

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is encouraging producers to respond to two upcoming surveys – the December Agricultural Survey and the County Agricultural Production Survey – that are critical to row crop producers around the country. The results of the surveys help determine the structure of the 2017 farm payment and risk management programs administered by USDA's Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency. The County Agricultural Production Survey was sent to 170,000 row crop producers beginning November 3. Responses are due by January 15, 2018, and NASS will publish county-level results for corn, soybeans, sunflowers, and sorghum on February 22, 2018, in the Quick Stats database. These county-level data are critical for USDA farm payment determinations. The December Agricultural Survey will go to 84,000 producers beginning November 29. Responses are due by December 21, 2017, and NASS publishes results in the Crop Production 2017 Summary report on January 12, 2018. Information collected in this survey also feeds into the county estimates for row crops. The survey also asks about grain stocks stored on-farm.

Upcoming Events

December 5-6, 2017 - Ag Horizons, Pierre, SD December 6, 2017 – High Plains Committee Meeting, Goodland, KS January 10-11, 2018 – NSA Research Forum, Fargo, ND June 26-28, 2018 – NSA Summer Seminar, Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria, MN

Markets

Trading was fairly quiet last week ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.  Sunflower prices at the crush plants ended the week unchanged to up 5 cents. Birdfood prices held steady as well. Sunflower harvest is getting close to wrapping up in the US. Most states are equal to or slightly ahead of the five-year average harvest pace per USDA. In the past week, producers harvested an additional 70,005 acres pushing 2017 harvested acres to 1,176,380 acres. This represents 94% of this year’s projected harvested acres and is about equal to the five-year average. As harvest wraps up producers are already looking ahead to the 2018 growing season. The drought and or abnormally dry conditions are still in place across most of North and South Dakota and a large part of Montana. Soils are very dry and there is little subsoil moisture remaining. The 2017 drought had varied effects on crops with complete losses in some cases to disappointing yields in others. Sunflower yields pleasantly surprised many producers leaving several wishing they had planted more sunflowers. The final production figures have not been released for the 2017 sunflower crop but based on producer reports it was significantly better than most could have imagined back in July. If dry weather persists into spring 2018 sunflower will be a good option due to its drought tolerance and profit potential.

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, November 27, 2017 ($/CWT)   Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2017 NEW Crop Chicago Oil Nearby 36.71 33.95 33.60 -.35 34.00 Fargo, ND NuSun 14.75 17.65 17.65 NC 18.00 Fargo, ND High Oleic NQ 17.50 17.50 NC 18.25 Enderlin, ND NuSun 14.85 17.45 17.50 +.05 18.15 Enderlin, ND High Oleic NQ 17.45 17.50 +.05 18.15 Goodland, KS NuSun 14.65 16.50 16.55 +.05 NQ Goodland, KS High Oleic 16.35 17.50 17.55 +.05 NQ 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, November 27, 2017 (dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)   Last Year Last Week This Week Change Soybean Oil 35.21 32.45 32.10 -.35 Cotton Oil (psby) 46.71 32.95 32.60 -.35 Corn Oil 44.50 37.50 37.50 NC