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Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Jul 11 2022

Crop Progress - Monday, July 11, 2022 State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average North Dakota         Emerged 95 85 91 91 Blooming 1 NA 2 4 Kansas         Planted 94 85 95 95 Colorado         Planted 95 84 97 97 Texas         Harvested 15 5 15 NA

Crop Conditions - Monday, July 11, 2022 State Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent North Dakota 0 1 15 77 7 Minnesota 0 1 19 74 6 Colorado 1 2 60 29 8

Start scouting for sunflower moths

It is time to start scouting for banded sunflower moth (BSM), Arthuri sunflower moth (ASM) and sunflower head moth (SHM). BSM, is a small (¼ inch long), straw yellow moth with a wingspan of about ½ inch. Its forewings have a triangular, dark brown band crossing through the middle of the wing. ASM, is a small (¼ inch long), whitish-gray moth with a wingspan of about ½ inch. Its forewings are crossed by a broken brown and gray band and the outer ¼ has brownish markings and dark fringe. SHM, is a small (<1/2 inch long), light colored moth that holds its wings over the abdomen and appear cigar shaped. When the wings are spread, they can be recognized by having a pale leading edge of the forewing, and a small black discal spot on each forewing. When sampling, use the W pattern and begin counting at least 75 to 100 feet into the field to avoid field margin effects. Count moths on 20 plants at 5 sampling sites to obtain the total number of moths per 100 plants. When scouting during the day (late morning to early afternoon), the moths remain quiet, resting on upper or lower leaves of sunflower plants or other neighboring broadleaf plants like soybeans. Look for the moth fluttering from plant to plant when disturbed. For more information, visit  www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/banded-sunflower-moth

Markets

Commodity markets have nosedived on massive fund liquidation in the stock, energy, and grain markets. The markets have been pressured lower by broad recession fears throughout the economy in the outside markets. There are signs of manufacturing activity beginning to slow which is an indicator of recession. This has helped spur a selloff from outside money managers within the commodity sector. Additional downward price pressure came from favorable weather forecasts across the Heartland.  The selloff and sharply lower vegetable oil prices have hit sunflower prices as well.  Slightly higher than expected canola sowings in Canada produced additional bearish price pressure in the edible oils market. Now that the USDA planted acres report data is factored into the market, buyers will anxiously watch crop production prospects before making longer term purchases. Initial estimates using trend yields peg oil-type sunflower production at 2.44 billion pounds up 40 percent from last year with confection sunflower production at 193 million pounds up 16 percent from 2021. In October, USDA will provide its first official estimate for oil and non-oil sunflower production.  Sunflower trading will be influenced to a greater extent by crop conditions and progress along with weather conditions in the near term. Currently weather conditions are mostly favorable for crop development in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Mid-August through September is the critical time frame for sunflowers. The latest USDA supply and demand figures will also guide market direction in the week ahead.

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