Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Feb 24 2025

NDSU Sunflower Production Guide

Do you have the handy NDSU Extension Sunflower Production Guide in your glovebox? This NDSU publication has long been called the ‘sunflower bible’ since it was first published in 1975. The 178-page publication is full of four-color pictures of the major insects and diseases for ease in identification. The guide is directed primarily toward sunflower production in the Northern Great Plains of the United States; however, it is relevant to other production areas. The publication can be viewed on our website. Click here to view. NSA will provide one complimentary copy to sunflower growers. To obtain your complimentary copy email: info@sunflowernsa.com. Please include your name and complete mailing address. The Sunflower Production Guide is also available for sale from the NSA’s online catalog for $15 including shipping. Click here to order

Sunflower Production Conference Video Link Available

If you missed the ‘2025 Getting-it-Right in Sunflower Production,’ video conference you can access it on-line. Topics covered ranged from hybrid data, soil considerations and plant nutrition, updates for blackbird, weed, disease and insect management, and a market update. The program was conducted by North Dakota State University Extension. Recording and resources are available at https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/getting-it-right, scroll to the conference video section and click the sunflower meeting link. Each individual talk has its own video clip. Additional publications and resources are available under the sunflower conference resources.

Markets

The sunflower market remains hot with nearby prices up $1.00 to $2.00 per cwt. this week at the crush plants. Since January 1, nearby prices at the crush plants have added $5.00 to $6.25 per cwt. 2025 new crop contracts were up 25 cents. The crop insurance price discovery process continues for 2025 crop insurance price elections. Oil type sunflowers are $24.10, and confections are $32.30 per cwt. Oils are up 20 cents with confections up 30 cents from last week. To follow sunflower price election trends, watch the 2025 CBoT December soyoil contract through February 28. Final price elections will be announced in early March. Traders are anxiously awaiting USDA’s release of its Prospective Plantings Report on March 31. According to CoBank, US farmers are expected to shift acreage to corn this spring, spurred by higher prices for the grain relative to other crops. However, potential for trade disputes with Canada and Mexico could curb the increase in planted acreage. CoBank estimated soybean acres falling 3.6% to 84 million acres with spring wheat seedings in the Northern Plains expected to drop 5.9% to 10 million acres. Most market watchers expect sunflower acres to increase in 2025 given the small production last year and current demand. The first estimate of 2025 sunflower acres will be in the USDA March Planting Intentions report.

Proper spring grain drying and storage critical

As outdoor temperatures increase, stored grain requires attention to prevent losses. The stored grain temperature increases in the spring not only due to an increase in outdoor temperatures but also due to solar heat gain on the bin. Solar energy produces more than twice as much heat gain on the south wall of a bin in early spring as it does during the summer. Here are some recommendations:

Run aeration fans periodically to keep the grain temperature near or below 30 degrees until the grain is dried if it exceeds recommended storage moisture contents, and below 40 degrees as long as possible during spring and early summer if it is dry.
Cover the fan when it is not operating to prevent warm air from blowing into the bin and heating the stored grain. Ventilate the top of the bin to remove the solar heat gain that warms the grain. Provide air inlets near the eaves and exhausts near the peak or use a roof exhaust fan.
Bin vents can become blocked with frost and ice when the fan is operated at temperatures near or below freezing, which may lead to damage to the roof. Leave the fill and access door open as a pressure relief valve when operating the fan at temperatures near or below freezing.
The natural air-drying for oil sunflowers requires an airflow rate of 0.75 cfm/bu for up to 15 percent moisture. The drying should start when outdoor temperatures average about 40 degrees. Visit Drying & Storing Sunflowers (sunflowernsa.com) for more tips.

Upcoming Events

June 24-26, 2025 - NSA Summer Seminar; Bismarck, ND

Markets at a Glance

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, February 24, 2025 ($/CWT)

	Deliver	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change	2025 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil	Nearby	44.40	47.30	45.71	-1.59	46.20
West Fargo, ND	High Oleic	NQ	26.00	27.00	+1.00	23.75
Enderlin, ND	High Oleic	13.75	24.90	26.90	+2.00	23.25
Lamar, CO	High Oleic	15.70	25.00	26.50	+1.50	25.00

U.S. CRUDE OIL VALUES recorded on Monday, February 24, 2025
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. locations)

	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change
Soybean Oil	48.02	46.30	44.71	-1.59
Cotton Oil (pbsy)	70.02	72.30	70.71	-1.59
Corn Oil	61.00	46.00	46.00	NC

Prices recorded here are believed to be reliable at the time of posting. Individual companies have the right to correct any errors that may occur. Contact these facilities for complete market details.

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