Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Sep 05 2023

Crop Progress - Tuesday, September 5, 2023

State	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	5 Year Average
North Dakota
Petals Dry	64	46	56	67
Bracts Yellow	30	4	29	36
Mature	8	--	7	7
South Dakota
Petals Dry	40	12	--	--
Bracts Yellow	5	--	--	--
Texas
Harvested	NA	52	56	51

Crop Conditions - Tuesday, September 5, 2023

State	Timeframe	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
North Dakota	This week	1	6	32	55	6
	Last week	1	5	31	58	5
Minnesota	This week	0	4	32	63	1
	Last week	0	1	35	63	1
Colorado	This week	0	0	10	77	13
	Last week	1	3	16	68	12
South Dakota	This week	2	5	47	42	4
	Last week	0	1	45	49	5

Monitor for Phomopsis Stem Canker

With the sporadic rains, it is important to scout for Phomopsis stem canker and other sunflower diseases. For Phomopsis stem canker, a light to dark colored lesion develops on the stem, and a possible discoloration on the sunflower head. Mathew’s lab at North Dakota State University is needing sunflower plant samples that are suspected of Phomopsis stem canker. For information on how to send samples, please contact Febina Mathew (febina.mathew@ndsu.edu). The address to send samples (only diseased stem and/or head rot) is Febina Mathew, NDSU Plant Pathology Dept., 1402 Albrecht Blvd., 306 Walster Hall, Fargo, ND 58102. For more on Phomopsis stem canker visit: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/publications/sunflower-disease-diagnostic-series or Diseases (sunflowernsa.com)

Markets

This week sunflower prices continued to move lower as the market continues its transition toward the 2023/24 market year. Moving forward, it may be hard to gather significant forward momentum as carryover oil-type seed stocks are projected to be above the five-year average as well as seasonal harvest pressure being just around the corner. The 2023 US sunflower crop continues to progress at a faster pace after a slow start this spring. Very warm to hot temperatures along with drier soil conditions are pushing the crop toward maturity in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Some of the crop could be desiccated in early September for harvest. Most of the crops in these states are considered in good to excellent condition. This should mean that yields will be above trend assuming normal weather through the rest of this fall and the lack of an early freeze. Above normal rainfall this season has most of the sunflower crop in Colorado rated in good to excellent condition as well. This is a much-welcomed change after many drought years impacting yield. Mid-August through September is the critical time frame for sunflowers. Buyers will be anxiously watching crop production prospects before making longer term purchases. In October, USDA will provide its first estimate for oil and non-oil sunflower production. This report and demand news will set the tone for new crop sunflower price direction in the near term.