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Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Jul 17 2023

Crop Progress - Monday, July 17, 2023 State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average North Dakota         Blooming 1 1 1 7 South Dakota         Emerged 97 81 -- -- Kansas         Planted 93 88 96 96 Texas         Harvested NA 11 20 NA

Crop Conditions - Monday, July 17, 2023 State Timeframe Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent North Dakota This week 1 3 44 49 3   Last week 1 6 47 42 4 Minnesota This week 0 0 23 74 3   Last week 0 0 30 68 2 Colorado This week 0 1 5 76 18   Last week 0 1 3 86 10 South Dakota This week 2 7 46 43 2   Last week 1 6 45 47 1

Scout for moths and red sunflower seed weevil

As sunflower fields begin to bloom, adults of red sunflower seed weevil (RSSW) will be emerging and will fly to the nearest flowering sunflowers. RSSW are small (2.5 to 3.1 mm long) with a snout and are reddish orange. It’s also time to scout for banded sunflower moth (BSM), Arthuri sunflower moth (ASM) and sunflower head moth (SHM). Once the decision to treat has been made, it is critical to time the spray application correctly to get effective management of all sunflower head insects, including RSSW, BSM, ASM, SHM and Lygus bug. The best sunflower plant stage to treat is when most plants are in the R5.1 growth stage. Visit www.sunflowernsa.com/growers/Insects/  to read more about scouting for insects and the best treatments. To see the insecticides registered in sunflower, visit https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/north-dakota-field-crop-insect-management-guide

Markets

Old crop sunflower prices were unchanged to up 25 cents and new crop sunflower prices at the crush plants held firm after the release of a bearish USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report last week. The generally unfavorable data in the USDA report sent corn, soybean, and wheat prices into the red with double digit losses. USDA lowered its soybean production estimate by 210 million bushels for a new total of 4.3 billion bushels. Traders were generally expecting a steeper decline, with an average trade guess of 4.253 billion bushels. Analysts were also expecting a yield reduction, but USDA held that number steady from June’s estimate. For soybeans, the 2022/23 U.S. ending stocks were pegged at 255 million bushels, above the June estimate of 230 million and the trade's expectation of 235 million bushels. The report surprised traders on the demand side as USDA lowered the crush forecast by 10 million bushels (mb) while slashing exports by 125 mb. The result is total use of 4.276 billion bushels, and 300 mb of ending stocks for 2023/24. Currently weather conditions are mostly favorable for sunflower development in Colorado, the Dakotas and Minnesota. However, a good drink would be welcomed in the Dakotas and Minnesota to improve crop conditions as we enter the bloom stage of crop development. Mid-August through September is the critical time frame for sunflowers. The latest USDA supply and demand figures will guide market direction in the week ahead.

Grower report

Walcott, ND grower Matt Swenson says his sunflowers look good and are at the R-2 to R-3 stage. Currently he has no disease or insect issues. Swenson says they could use some rain. This past week the weather has been cooler than usual with highs in the 70’s.

Consider cattail control

July to mid-August is a good time to remove blackbird roosting locations, such as marshes sloughs and cattails. Cattails serve as blackbird habitat, so it is in the sunflower producer’s best interest to cut them down or spray herbicides to get rid of them as much as possible. Visit https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/north-dakota-weed-control-guide for more information on using herbicides.

Have Seeds for Sale?

Do you still have seed in the bin from your 2022 crop or have non-contracted 2023 production to sell? If you are looking for buyers to sell your seeds too visit the NSA website to find oilseed crushers, confection seed processors and bird food buyers using these links: Oilseed crushers: https://www.sunflowernsa.com/buyers/?detail=oilseedcrushers Confection processors: https://www.sunflowernsa.com/buyers/?detail=confectionprocessors Bird food buyers: https://www.sunflowernsa.com/buyers/?detail=birdfood

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Markets at a Glance

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, July 17, 2023 ($/CWT)   Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2023 NEW Crop Chicago Oil Nearby 63.20 69.22 64.76 -4.46 60.34 West Fargo, ND NuSun 28.50 19.00 19.25 +.25 20.25 West Fargo, ND High Oleic 34.50 19.50 19.75 +.25 21.50 Enderlin, ND NuSun 29.00 19.10 19.10 NC 20.55 Enderlin, ND High Oleic 34.50 19.60 19.60 NC 21.75 Lamar, CO High Oleic 36.75 20.25 20.25 NC 22.40

U.S. CRUDE OIL VALUES recorded on Monday, July 17, 2023 (dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. locations)   Last Year Last Week This Week Change Soybean Oil 73.70 72.33 71.76 -.57 Cotton Oil (pbsy) 103.20 100.33 99.76 -.57 Corn Oil 151.00 70.00 70.00 NC

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