Search

Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Apr 01 2024

Sunflower Production Conference Video Link Available

If you missed the ‘2024 Getting-it-Right in Sunflower Production,’ video conference you can access it on-line. Topics covered ranged from sunflower agronomy, hybrid data, soil considerations and plant nutrition, updates for 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.

Reducing blackbird damage

As producers gear up for planting, now is a good time to think about blackbirds and reducing the damage they could cause to this year’s sunflower crop. USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services recommends not planting sunflower in close proximity to large cattail sloughs (blackbird roosts) if at all possible. If you do plant close to cattails, consider spraying cattails with glyphosate in accordance with the label, or mowing cattails if possible. Something else to consider is developing roads or trails in larger fields (quarter or more) to allow access to the middle of fields. Birds always go to the center of the field where you can’t reach them. Trails or roads allow you many more locations and better accessibility to move blackbirds out of the field and reduce losses. Visit www.sunflowernsa.com/growers/black-birds/ for more tips to reduce blackbird damage.

Markets

Nearby prices were unchanged to up 35 cents with new crop unchanged to up $1.25 this week at the crush plants. USDA released its first estimate of 2024 planted acres. Sunflower growers intend to plant 957,500 acres in 2024, a decrease of 27 percent from 2023. Compared with last year, growers in all eight major sunflower producing states expect a decrease in sunflower acreage this year. Area intended for oil type varieties, at 804,000 acres, is down 31 percent from 2023. Area intended for non-oil varieties, estimated at 153,500 acres, is about equal to last year. The soybean planted area for 2024 is estimated at 86.5 million acres, up 3 percent from last year and near the trade’s expectation. Corn planted area for 2024 is estimated at 90 million acres, down 5 percent from last year. Spring wheat acreage is expected to increase to 11.3 million acres, up 1 percent from last year, with durum increasing 21% from last year to 2.03 million acres. The March acreage and grain stocks reports will guide the market as we head into the planting season. It will also give farmers a look at what others are thinking of planting this year and may adjust their plans. The March numbers rarely match final acreage estimates for the year. Weather always has the final say in final acreage outlays and a lot can change in the next several weeks.

NSA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Anyone requesting special accommodation should notify NSA within a reasonable timeframe. NSA will accommodate reasonable requests.