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Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Sep 20 2021

Crop Progress - Monday, September 20, 2021 State This Week Last Week Last Year 5 Year Average North Dakota         Petals Dry 93 90 92 91 Bracts Yellow 81 65 77 75 Mature 38 22 45 36 Texas         Harvested NA 59 59 54

Crop Conditions - Monday, September 20, 2021 State Timeframe Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent North Dakota This week 11 31 39 18 1   Last week 11 28 37 22 2 Minnesota This week 6 13 41 37 3   Last week 8 15 37 38 2 Colorado This week -- 10 31 54 5   Last week 1 9 29 56 5

Submit research grant application pre-proposals

Research is an important part of the NSA’s mission. Each year, the NSA provides grants to public researchers to stimulate new or additional work that may result in lower production costs, increased quality, and higher yields. Pre-proposals for projects to be considered for funding in 2022 are now being accepted. To read more and to submit pre-proposals, visit www.sunflowernsa.com/Research/NSA-Research-Priorities/. Grant applications are due by October 5, 2021.

Grower Report

Crookston, MN grower Kevin Capistran says his sunflowers look good compared to his other crops. He says he planted 3-4 weeks earlier this year and desiccated his field September 8th. This year he did not spray for insects due to only seeing a few grasshoppers around the edges, but he did notice more blackbirds than usual for his area. Harvesting will be dependent on the weather. He is hoping for drying weather this week so the following week he can begin.

Markets

Seed prices were down 25 cents to unchanged at the crush plants last week. Birdfood prices remain within range of market highs in the Dakotas. Birdfood is trading mostly around $28.40-$31.50 in South Dakota with North Dakota prices trading for as much as $33.00 in some locations.  The weather forecast for the next two weeks is predicting above normal temperatures and drier than normal moisture conditions in the sunflower growing region. This bodes well for crop dry down and an earlier than normal start to harvest. Harvest could be just days away in some locations of North and South Dakota. Most likely harvest will not start in earnest until early October. Getting the crop harvested several weeks early can result in lower drying costs, plus reduces late season crop and blackbird damage. Harvest continues to move along in Texas and is ahead of the five-year average. In the coming weeks, several USDA reports will give producers and industry a better picture of sunflower fundamentals heading into the 2021/22 marketing year. On September 30, USDA will report old crop sunflower stocks and on October 12 USDA will give its first estimate of 2021 US harvested sunflower acres and production. Traders will be eager to see how USDA factors in any potential effect of this year’s drought into the production numbers. These reports along with actual harvest reports will set the tone for new crop sunflower price direction in the near term.

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