Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Nov 05 2018
Crop Progress
Wet weather slowed sunflower harvest in Colorado, where 44 percent of the crop is reported harvested, well behind the average of 67 percent.
Crop Progress - Monday, November 5, 2018 
State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average
North Dakota        
Harvested 61 49 70 60
South Dakota        
Harvested 45 16 66 62
Minnesota        
Harvested 73 58 86 82
Kansas        
Harvested 51 40 53 57
Colorado        
Harvested 44 31 63 67
Texas        
Harvested 78 73 79 77
Crop Conditions - Monday, November 5, 2018
State Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent
Colorado 3 7 26 59 5
Seed Quality
High Plains 2018 2017
Oil Content 41.3% 41.3%
Foreign Material 4.7% 6.5%
Moisture 7.9% 7.9%
Test Weight 29.4 lbs 29.3lbs
Northern Plains 2018 2017
Oil Content 44.3% 42.9%
Foreign Material 3.6% 4.6%
Moisture 9.1% 9.0%
Test Weight 31.7 lbs 31.0 lbs
Grower Report
Lemmon, SD area producer Lance Hourigan hopes to start combining his 2,000 acres of high oleic sunflower later this week. Hourigan says about half the sunflower in his area have been harvested, and reports range from a little below average to well above average. He says the difference in yields is likely due to the difference in rainfall over the growing season.
Markets
Continued strong harvest deliveries has led to some nearby price pressure at the crush plants and other delivery points. NuSun and high oleic prices at the crush plants ended the week down 5 to 20 cents this week. With the current downtrend in nearby prices storing seed for delivery after the first of the year might be something to consider if you have available storage. Premiums of 45 to 65 cents per cwt., depending on the month, are being offered at the ND crush plants for later delivery. Birdfood prices also started to drift lower in some locations. In the past week, producers harvested an additional 230,000 acres pushing 2018 harvested acres to almost 608,000 acres. This represents 53% of this year’s projected harvested acres and is behind the five-year average. Seed quality remains generally very good. Yields are being reported in the 1,500-2,800-pound range with some reports over 3,500 pounds. The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expected to announce Harvest Prices for revenue insurance policies for sunflowers next week. The harvest price per pound for oil-type sunflowers should be 15.5 cents and confection sunflowers at 21.7 cents.  The spring prices were 17.5 cents for oils and 23.7 cents for confections. Given the drop between the spring and fall prices producers should contact their local crop insurance agent to see if they are eligible for an indemnity payment. 
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