Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Jul 29 2024

Crop Progress - Monday, July 29, 2024

State	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	5 Year Average
North Dakota
Blooming	8	5	20	24
South Dakota
Blooming	2	1	15	--
Texas
Harvested	32	22	34	29

Crop Conditions - Monday, July 29, 2024

State	Timeframe	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
North Dakota	This week	1	3	35	59	1
	Last week	0	2	31	65	2
Minnesota	This week	0	1	24	56	19
	Last week	0	1	24	56	19
Colorado	This week	1	30	49	18	2
	Last week	1	30	39	28	2
South Dakota	This week	1	4	28	58	9
	Last week	1	3	34	51	11

Examine crop for rust

Rust is most often found on the lower under-side of leaves. The pustules are cinnamon-red and readily recognizable. Yield loss can occur, and control measures should be considered when rust reaches approximately 1% severity on the upper four leaves and the plant is in the vegetative stages until it reaches the R6 stage. An infestation on the upper leaves at R6 or later will not likely have a negative yield affect. Fortunately, rust can be managed with well-timed fungicide applications. To learn more about rust, visit www.sunflowernsa.com/growers/diseases/rust-damage-and-control/

Markets

Old crop sunflower prices were unchanged to up 15 cents with new crop prices unchanged this week. Currently weather conditions are mostly favorable for sunflower development in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Traders are paying more attention to the Black Sea region as an extended period of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation is a growing concern to sunflower production in the region. Oil World recently lowered its production estimates for Russia to 17.3 million metric tons (MMT) and Ukraine to 13.6 MMT. This is a significant drop off from last year’s production of 18.4 MMT in Russia and 14.7 in Ukraine. Oil World also lowered production prospects in Romania and Bulgaria due hot and drier than normal weather conditions this growing season. The Hamburg, Germany publication notes that there is risk for more significant damage if much needed moisture is not received soon in the region. Oil World lowered 24/25 global sunflower production to 61.89 MMT from last year’s total production of 64.85 MMT. The global seed stocks to use ratio is projected to show a 25% decrease by the end of the 24/25 marketing year from the previous year. The situation bears watching as Russia and Ukraine are the largest exporters of sunflower oil. The potential reduced availability of sunflower seed and oil production poses risks for global markets and prices will be responsive to potential production shortfalls.

Start scouting for banded sunflower moth 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. RRSW are small (2.5 to 3.1 mm long) with a snout and are reddish orange. Banded sunflower moth (BSM) can be identified by their small size (1/4 inch long) and forewings with a triangular, dark brown band across the middle of the wing. 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 RRSW, BSM, sunflower moth and Lygus bug. The best sunflower plant stage to treat is when the majority of plants are in the R5.1 growth stge. 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 www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/north-dakota-field-crop-insect-management-guide

Grower Report

Brighton, Colorado grower Tom Kirkmeyer says the weather has been in the upper 90’s with no humidity. The only moisture they have recently received was a hailstorm a week ago. The hail was pea to quarter size, which completely levelled his sunflowers.

Upcoming Events

August 8, 2024 - NSA High Plains Committee Meeting; Goodland, KS
January 8-9, 2025 - NSA Research Forum; Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND

Markets at a Glance

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, July 29, 2024 ($/CWT)

	Deliver	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change	2024 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil	Nearby	65.58	47.00	42.84	-4.16	41.98
West Fargo, ND	NuSun	19.30	NQ	NQ	NC	NQ
West Fargo, ND	High Oleic	19.80	17.50	17.50	NC	18.25
Enderlin, ND	NuSun	19.30	16.30	16.30	NC	NQ
Enderlin, ND	High Oleic	19.80	17.10	17.25	+.15	18.00
Lamar, CO	High Oleic	20.25	17.50	17.50	NC	20.00

U.S. CRUDE OIL VALUES recorded on Monday, July 29, 2024
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. locations)

	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change
Soybean Oil	70.11	50.00	45.84	-4.16
Cotton Oil (pbsy)	98.11	72.00	67.84	-4.16
Corn Oil	75.00	52.00	52.00	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.

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