Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Sep 09 2019
Crop Progress
Harvest is more than half complete in Texas; 57% of the crop is reported harvested there. Meanwhile, in Colorado 83% of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition.
Crop Progress - Monday, September 9, 2019
State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average
North Dakota        
Blooming 100 97 100 100
Petals Dry 66 36 88 80
Bracts Yellow 30 6 69 45
Mature 4 --- 22 ---
Texas        
Harvested 57 48 62 51
Crop Conditions - Monday, September 9, 2019
State Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent
North Dakota 1 3 19 70 7
Colorado 0 0 17 69 14
Minnesota 0 0 22 65 13
Grower Report
Colorado grower Tom Kirkmeyer is happy to get some rain today, after a hot, dry summer. Kirkmeyer says his area hasn’t seen any significant rainfall since early July. Kirkmeyer says his 850 acres of confection sunflower are just about filled and expects good yields, despite the dry summer. 
Estimating Yields in Sunflower Fields
September is typically an ideal month to estimate sunflower yields. Sunflower yields can be estimated using the tried and true method that is used during the annual sunflower survey. Sunflower should be at R7 stage of growth. To learn more about estimating yield, click here
Pre-Harvest Desiccant Information Available 
Getting the sunflower crop off early with the aid of a desiccant can pay good dividends. If you’re thinking about desiccating your sunflowers to get an earlier start on harvest this fall, there is some important pre-harvest desiccant information available on our website you may want to check out first. Click here to learn more.
Markets
Old crop prices were unchanged to up 25 cents last week. Nearby seed prices continue to trade above the 60-day moving average at the crush plants, as old and new crop prices remain at market highs set in late August.The sunflower growing states have mostly adequate moisture, but crop development remains behind the five-year average normal pacein most areas. In states reporting crop conditions, the crop is being rated at 77 to 83 percent good to excellent condition. Sunflower harvest will be delayed in the Northern Plains as many acres were planted later than normal and cooler than normal temperatures have slowed crop development. If possible and if the crop has matured to a point where it can be desiccated and harvested, it is advisable to do so. Getting the crop harvested several weeks early can result in higher yields and lower drying costs. It can also reduce late season crop damage and blackbird damage. In addition to watching weather forecasts, CBoT traders are anxiously awaiting the next series of USDA reports that will be released this week. Traders will be looking for USDA to confirm recent private crop estimates. Average trade estimates for US 2019 soybean crop production and carryout are both lower than USDA’s August figures.In October, USDA will provide an estimate for oil and non-oil sunflower production.  This report and demand news will set the tone for new crop sunflower price direction in the near term.
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