Sunflower Highlights
Post Date: May 24 2021
Crop Progress - Monday, May 24, 2021
State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average
North Dakota        
Planted 30 11 15 28
South Dakota        
Planted 18 1 7 12
Kansas        
Planted 14 8 26 8
Minnesota        
Planted 84 67 42 59
Colorado        
Planted 10 4 26 8
Texas        
Planted 19 15 19 NA
Recent rains offer opportunity with sunflowers
The Dakotas received some well-deserved rain showers last week, with more hopefully on the way. The moisture is beneficial but may be too late to save some earlier planted crops that have run out of gas and will unfortunately not make it due to drought conditions. Sunflowers offer a good alternative for growers to consider for re-plant and first crop acres. They can be planted until late June and perform well in dry conditions. In 2017, the last major drought year in the Dakotas confection sunflower did exceptionally well with yields per acre at 1,800 lbs. in ND and 2,000 lbs. in SD. Similarly, oil sunflower yields were 1,650 lbs. in ND and 1,700 lbs. in SD. The final planting dates for crop insurance purposes for sunflower vary by county. In North Dakota it is either June 10 or 15 and South Dakota is June 15 or 20. Processors are offering cash and Act of God (AOG) production contracts starting at a minimum of $32 and upwards per cwt for confections with oils in a range of $26.95-$27.50. With lower moisture needs and very profitable returns, diversifying market risk with some confection or oil sunflower acres is a good option in 2021. To talk to crushers and processors about contracting opportunities use this link: Buyers and Sellers (sunflowernsa.com)
Markets
A broad commodity selloff last week left stock markets, energy, and commodity prices significantly lower. CBoT soybean and products spilled into the red after ample technical selling. Soybean prices continue to face pressure from a slowdown in export sales, a large U.S. crop that is currently being planted and a likely record-breaking Brazilian harvest. Despite more than a few weather challenges, Brazil set a new record for soybean production of 4.9 billion bushels, a growth of 8.5% from last year. Sunflower prices weathered the selloff quite well with minimal losses. Nearby old crop prices were down 20 to 35 cents with new crop down 25 to 35 cents in the past week. Even with this week’s losses old and new crop prices continue to trade at nine-year highs. Sunflower planting is underway in all states and is about equal to last year at this same time and the five-year average. Favorable weather conditions are forecast for the next two weeks for the Dakotas and Minnesota and should allow for good planting progress. As the optimal planting window is closing on some crops, there is still time to take advantage of the market opportunities that sunflowers can offer. Sunflowers can be planted until late June in the Dakotas. With oilseed planting well under way the markets will begin to trade US weather and crop progress conditions to a greater degree. Traders will no doubt continue keeping a close eye on weekly export sales reports in the weeks ahead.
Sign up for Good Bugs Workshop
The first Good Bugs Workshop webinar will be held on May 26 with future webinars held in June and July. Participants will learn about supporting beneficial insects that provide pest control throughout this webinar series. Conservation biological control is a science-based pest management strategy that seeks to encourage beneficial insects back into cropping systems for natural pest control, ultimately rewarding farmers with economically viable pest management systems. Due to the COVID Pandemic this year’s events will be virtual. The cost is free; however, pre-registration is required. To register, email TJ Prochaska at travis.prochaska@ndsu.edu
Canada sunflower acres projected to decrease
According to Statistics Canada data, Canadian farmers intend to plant 86,450 acres of sunflowers this spring, which would be down 22 per cent from 2020. Area seeded is anticipated to be lower than 2020 due to competition with other crops. The majority of Canada’s sunflower crop is grown in Manitoba.
Send us your story ideas
We are already working on the 2021-22 issues of The Sunflower and we want your help! Growers, researchers, industry members – what topics would you like us to write about? Submit your ideas to: johns@sunflowernsa.com 
Upcoming Events
August 26, 2021 - NSA High Plains Committee Meeting; Goodland, KS
January 12-13, 2022 - NSA Research Forum; Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND
Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, May 24, 2021 ($/CWT)
  Deliver Last Year Last Week This Week Change 2021 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil Nearby 27.27 68.97 65.13 -3.84 57.58
West Fargo, ND NuSun 19.45 27.15 26.80 -.35 26.85
West Fargo, ND High Oleic 19.80 27.65 27.30 -.35 27.35
Enderlin, ND NuSun 19.45 27.20 26.85 -.35 26.95
Enderlin, ND High Oleic 19.75 27.70 27.35 -.35 27.45
Lamar, CO High Oleic NA 27.10 26.90 -.20 27.25
U.S. CRUDE OIL VALUES recorded on Monday, May 24, 2021
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)
  Last Year Last Week This Week Change
Soybean Oil 25.34 96.97 93.13 -3.84
Cotton Oil (psby) 42.09 103.97 100.13 -3.84
Corn Oil 46.00 83.00 83.00 NC
Prices recorded here are believed to be reliable at the time of posting. All prices are subject to change. Contact these facilities for complete market details.
 
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