Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: Mar 11 2024
Dr. Gerald Seiler 2024 Gold Award Winner
Gerald Seiler
Dr. Gerald Seiler
Dr. Gerald Seiler has been named the 2024 NSA Gold Award winner. He began his career with USDA, Agricultural Research Service in 1974 working on the post-harvest physiology of sugarbeets. In 1980 he accepted a botanist position working on the wild sunflower species for the USDA at Bushland, TX until the program closed in 1988 and was transferred to the USDA Oilseed Unit at Fargo, ND where he worked for the next 34 years.

Gerald spent four decades establishing the largest wild sunflower species collection in the world serving as the central repository for the sunflower industry. Utilizing this collection, he and his colleagues developed over 150 interspecific germplasms with disease resistance to the ever-evolving races of downy mildew and rust, other pathogens, and traits. Gerald was active in research and service to the sunflower industry. He coordinated the global program for the FAO Research Networks in Agriculture, Sunflower Working Group on the evaluation of the wild sunflowers for 15 years. Served for 12 years as the US Board Member for the International Sunflower Association and chaired the USDA Sunflower Crop Germplasm Committee for 30 years. Gerald spent 15 years as the organizer of the scientific program for the annual NSA Sunflower Research Forum and participated in the NSA Yield and Management Practices Survey for 30 years. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America, and recipient of the prestigious Pustovoit Award for outstanding contribution to theoretical and applied research for the global sunflower industry by the International Sunflower Association and the CSSA Frank N. Meyer Medal for Plant Genetic Resources for Plant Exploration.
Markets
Nearby prices were unchanged to up 10 cents with new crop prices unchanged to up 50 cents this week at the crush plants. The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report was released last week by USDA. USDA left the US soybean supply and demand balance sheet unchanged from February. For soybeans, the US ending stocks were pegged at 315 million bushels, versus the trade's expectation of 319 million bushels.  The world ending soybean stocks are estimated at 114.3 million metric tons (MMT), versus the trade's expectation of 114 MMT. USDA's February estimate was 116 MMT. US and world ending stocks were considered neutral for the market by most market analysts. The most eagerly anticipated item in the reports was South American soybean production estimates. USDA cut Brazilian soybean production by 1 MMT to 155 MMT, which was toward the high end of pre-report expectations. Argentine production was left unchanged at 50 MMT. Traders are also speculating on potential US acreage for the upcoming growing season. Trade expectations about planted acreage will likely be in a wide range before the report is released on March 28. The first estimate of 2024 sunflower acres will be available that day. They are also beginning now to look at North American weather and potential weather problems that may arise given dry conditions that have set in after a drier than normal winter in many locations.
Deadline is Approaching for NSA Scholarship
There is still time to submit applications for the National Sunflower Association’s Curtis Stern Memorial Scholarship. Scholarship funds assist students who study in the field of agriculture with a special emphasis on sunflower production, promotion, or research. Preference will be given to students who are in their last two years of undergraduate studies or in graduate level studies and have maintained at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0=A scale.  Application deadline is April 1, 2024. A total of $5,000 is available for the scholarship this year. Applications can be submitted online. Visit www.ndcf.net/receive/scholarships/stern.html to learn more.  Contact Tina Mittelsteadt at tinam@sunflowernsa.com with any questions.
High Plains Sunflower Production Meetings
The NSA High Plains Sunflower Committee is hosting sunflower production meetings on Tuesday March 12 at the Fourwinds Golf Course, 958 Hwy 56, Hugoton, KS and Wednesday March 13 at the Burlington Community Center, 340 S. 14 th St, Burlington, CO. Times at both sites will be from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Topics will include Sunflower weed control strategies, Insect and disease strategies, Market updates, and Controlling weeds with robots. Attendees can register online at www.northwest.ksu.edu/events or by contacting Ron Meyer, CSU Extension Specialist at (719) 346-5571.  The meetings are free of charge and will be available in-person or via Zoom.  When registering by phone, if your choice is to attend remotely provide your email address and you will be sent a Zoom link.  CCA credits will be available for attendees.
Upcoming Events
June 25-27, 2024 - NSA Summer Seminar; Duluth, MN
Markets at a Glance
Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, March 11, 2024 ($/CWT)
  Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2024 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil Nearby 55.34 44.65 46.05 +1.40 46.55
West Fargo, ND NuSun 22.90 NQ NQ NC NQ
West Fargo, ND High Oleic 23.50 13.75 13.85 +.10 19.75
Enderlin, ND NuSun 23.00 13.50 13.50 NC NQ
Enderlin, ND High Oleic 23.50 13.75 13.75 NC 19.00
Lamar, CO High Oleic 24.50 15.70 15.70 NC 20.00
U.S. CRUDE OIL VALUES recorded on Monday, March 11, 2024
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. locations)
  Last Year Last Week This Week Change
Soybean Oil 60.86 48.17 49.64 +1.47
Cotton Oil (pbsy) 100.86 70.17 71.64 +1.47
Corn Oil 96.00 59.00 59.00 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.
 
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