Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Sep 27 2021

Crop Progress - Monday, September 27, 2021

State	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	5 Year Average
North Dakota
Petals Dry	97	93	95	95
Bracts Yellow	90	81	86	84
Mature	57	38	60	53
Harvested	2	NA	5	5
South Dakota
Harvested	2	NA	2	1
Minnesota
Harvested	3	0	6	5
Texas
Harvested	69	63	63	60
Kansas
Harvested	3	NA	NA	1
Colorado
Harvested	NA	NA	NA	NA

Crop Conditions - Monday, September 27, 2021

State	Timeframe	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
North Dakota	This week	10	28	37	23	2
	Last week	11	31	39	18	1
Minnesota	This week	8	16	39	34	3
	Last week	6	13	41	37	3
Colorado	This week	--	8	35	49	8
	Last week	--	10	31	54	5

Deadline approaching for research grant applications

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.

Markets

Nearby prices at the crush plants were unchanged to up 50 cents this week. Crush plants are offering 2022 new crop cash and Act of God (AOG) contracts. NuSun cash is $26.80-$27.00 and $26.30-$26.50 AOG. High oleics are $27.25-$27.30 cash and $26.75-$26.80 AOG.

Something else to consider is the oil premiums that crush plants pay on sunflower. Sunflower is the only oilseed that pays premiums for oil content above 40%. Birdfood prices remain within range of market highs in the Dakotas. Birdfood prices moved up 30 cents to a $1.00 per cwt. higher in South Dakota this week and is trading mostly around $28.70-$32.50. North Dakota birdfood prices are 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. The sunflower crop continues to mature at a rapid rate. Harvest has started in North Dakota and Minnesota and could be just days away in some South Dakota locations. Harvest continues to move along in Texas and is ahead of the five-year average. Trading in the week ahead will focus on the USDA Grain Stocks report that will be released this week. Traders are expecting sunflower stocks to be up from a year ago but below the five-year average. USDA will give its first estimate of 2021 sunflower production in October.

Are your bins ready?

As harvest approaches, take time to make sure your bins are ready. Bins with perforated floors work better for drying sunflower than those with ducts. Aeration is essential, especially in larger bins. Aeration may be accomplished with floor mounted ducts or portable aerators. Aeration fans should deliver 1/10 to 1 cfm per cwt of sunflower. If aeration is not available, sunflower should be rotated between bins to avoid hot spots developing in the stored grain. For more on harvest and storage, visit www.sunflowernsa.com/growers/HarvestingStorage/

Sunflower exports on the rise

Exports of sunflower kernel are up 29% from a year ago, from 3,538 metric tons (MT) from October 2019 to July 2020 to 4,569 MT from October 2020 to July 2021. Canada remains the top importer of U.S. sunflower kernel, importing 2,243 MT. In-shell exports increased 14% from 18,360 MT from October 2019 to July 2020 to 20,934 MT from October 2020 to July 2021. Spain remains the top importer of in-shell sunflower, importing 7,898 MT with Mexico a close second importing 6,160 MT during the period. Sunflower oil exports are up 12% from a year ago, from 33,581 MT during October 2019 to July 2020 to 37,705 MT from October 2020 to July 2021. Canada remains the top importer, importing 20,838 MT up 10% from a year ago. Mexico is the number two destination importing 9,213 MT during the period.

Upcoming Events

January 12-13, 2022 - NSA Research Forum; Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND
June 28-30, 2022 - NSA Summer Seminar; Grand Forks, ND

Markets at a Glance

Weekly Prices Recorded on Monday, September 27, 2021 ($/CWT)

	Deliver	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change	2022 NEW Crop
Chicago Oil	Nearby	33.29	54.91	58.30	+3.39	58.11
West Fargo, ND	NuSun	16.90	31.00	31.50	+.50	26.80
West Fargo, ND	High Oleic	17.05	31.15	31.50	+.35	27.30
Enderlin, ND	NuSun	16.90	31.30	31.50	+.20	27.00
Enderlin, ND	High Oleic	17.10	31.30	31.50	+.20	27.25
Lamar, CO	High Oleic	NA	29.25	29.25	unch	26.50 AOG

U.S. CRUDE OIL VALUES recorded on Monday, September 27, 2021
(dollars per 100 lb. internal U.S. location)

	Last Year	Last Week	This Week	Change
Soybean Oil	33.54	74.91	77.97	+3.06
Cotton Oil (psby)	48.29	94.91	97.97	+3.06
Corn Oil	66.00	88.00	88.00	unch

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