Sunflower Highlights

Post Date: Sep 07 2021

Crop Progress - Tuesday, September 7, 2021

State	This Week	Last Week	Last Year	5 Year Average
North Dakota
Petals Dry	84	60	80	75
Bracts Yellow	46	24	45	45
Mature	14	5	9	9
Texas
Harvested	NA	53	54	43

Crop Conditions - Tuesday, September 7, 2021

State	Timeframe	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
North Dakota	This week	10	26	38	25	1
	Last week	8	33	39	19	1
Minnesota	This week	8	14	33	45	0
	Last week	9	15	41	34	1
Colorado	This week	1	7	27	62	3
	Last week	1	12	34	47	6

Monitor for Phomopsis Stem Canker

This time of year, it is important to scout for Phomopsis stem canker. To identify Phomopsis stem canker, look for tan to dark brown colored lesion on the stem. In addition, the stem becomes hollow and can be punctured with thumb. Febina Mathew’s lab is looking for sunflower plant samples that are suspected of Phomopsis stem canker and other stem diseases (Phoma, Sclerotinia, etc.). Sam Markell has prepared a good video on sunflower diseases including Phomopsis stem canker and explains how to store samples before shipping: My Meeting - Zoom The address to send samples (only the stem) is Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University, Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science Department, SPSB 113, Box 2108, Brookings, SD 57007. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to get the NSA survey going this year. For information on the samples, please contact Febina Mathew at febina.mathew@sdstate.edu.To learn more about common stem diseases in sunflower, visit Sunflower Disease Diagnostic Series — Publications (ndsu.edu)

Sunflower prices were unchanged to up 50 cents last week at the crush plants. In the past month, prices at the plants have been moving toward previous historical highs and are trading at a $15.00 per cwt. premium to last year at this same time. Birdfood prices have also been on the rise gaining up to $4.00 in some locations last week. Birdfood is trading mostly around $30.00-$31.00 in South Dakota with North Dakota prices trading for as much as $33.00 in some locations. Very warm to hot temperatures in the past month along with drier soil conditions has pushed the crop toward maturity in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Overall crop conditions have improved slightly in the past few weeks however drought is still affecting the crop with most of it in only fair condition. Below average moisture conditions are expected to persist in the parched Northern and High Plains for at least the next two weeks. This will likely continue accelerating crop maturation which is ahead of the five-year average pace. If possible and if the crop has matured to a point where it can be desiccated and harvested this month, it is advisable to do so. Getting the crop harvested several weeks early can result in higher yields and lower drying costs. It can also reduce late season crop damage and blackbird damage. In October, USDA will provide its first estimate of 2021 oil and non-oil sunflower production. This report and demand will set the tone for sunflower price direction in the near term.

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