Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Aug 24 2021

Crop Progress - Monday, August 23, 2021

State	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	5 Year Average
North Dakota
Blooming	95	91	95	95
Petals Dry	35	17	30	32
Bracts Yellow	14	9	5	NA
Mature	1	NA	NA	NA
Texas
Harvested	49	42	44	40

Crop Conditions - Monday, August 23, 2021

State	Timeframe	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
North Dakota	This week	6	34	43	16	1
	Last week	7	29	42	21	1
Minnesota	This week	8	15	46	31	0
	Last week	7	17	47	29	0
Colorado	This week	1	10	38	46	5
	Last week	0	10	30	55	5

USDA Provides Help with Blackbirds

Sunflowers are blooming and it is never too early to think about blackbird control. Local birds cause a large amount of damage as petals begin to dry and drop (R6 stage). Be proactive early on to minimize seed loss, do not wait for the buildup of large flocks. For a map with phone numbers for those USDA Wildlife Services personnel that can help North Dakota producers who have blackbird problems, visit NORTH DAKOTA (sunflowernsa.com) Some other ways to reduce damage include cattail management, cannons, harassment, desiccants, and repellants. These tools are even more effective when used together. For more on blackbirds, visit Blackbirds (sunflowernsa.com)

Grower Report

Regent, North Dakota grower Josh Greff says most of his sunflowers are in full bloom with some petals dropping off. Two weeks ago, they received 2 inches of rain but last week was very hot and dry. He is thankful that they recently received beneficial rain as his fields were getting dry again. Insects nor disease have been an issue, but he did spray all his acres for weevils.

Markets

Good week for sunflower prices as the nearby price topped $31.00 at ND crush plants and 2022 new crop contracts rolled out earlier than normal. This week ADM Enderlin posted 2022 new crop cash and Act of God (AOG) contracts. NuSun cash is $27.00 and $26.50 AOG. High oleics are $27.25 cash and $26.75 AOG. Something else to consider is the oil premiums that crush plants pay on sunflower. Sunflower is the only oilseed that pays premiums for oil content above 40%. Considering oil premiums that are offered at the crush plants on oil content above 40% at a rate of 2% price premium for each 1% of oil above 40%; this pushes a contract with 45% oil content gross return 10% higher per cwt. The AOG $26.50 contract increases to $29.15, and the cash $27.25 contract moves up to $30.00. Nearby birdfood bids are trading mostly around $30.00 in South Dakota with North Dakota prices trading for as much as $29.00-$30.00 in some locations. Seed prices have been generally steady in the High Plains states. The 2021 US sunflower crop continues to progress at a faster pace after a slower start this spring. Very warm to hot temperatures along with drier soil conditions are pushing the crop toward maturity in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Crop conditions have improved slightly in the past two weeks however drought is affecting the crop with most of it in only fair condition.

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