Nearby and 2026 new crop prices at the crush plants were unchanged this week. November and December prices are in the range of $21.00-$21.15 per cwt depending on the location. In the Dakotas and Minnesota, a much colder dry weather pattern has allowed for improved ground conditions and harvest progress. Crush plants are taking in seed at higher moisture levels than normally allowed to aid producers in getting their sunflowers harvested. As a result, deliveries to the crush plants have increased as producers are prioritizing sunflower harvest and delivery to take advantage of the current uptrend in nearby prices. Sunflower prices have increased 40 to 50 cents per cwt. since mid-October. USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Harvest Prices for 2025 revenue insurance policies for sunflowers will be released soon. The harvest price has risen to where it will take a yield loss to trigger a crop insurance payment. Harvest price per pound for oil-type sunflowers is about 26.3 cents and confection sunflowers at 35.2 cents. Spring prices were 24 cents for oils and 32.2 cents for confections. It is best to check with your crop insurance agent to see if you are entitled to an indemnity check on this year’s sunflower crop. The weather conditions in the Northern Plains are expected to change to a warmer than normal and drier than normal pattern later in the week. These conditions should allow the remaining harvest to move forward.
ADM Enderlin, Cargill West Fargo and Colorado Mills crush plants are offering 2026 new crop cash and Act of God (AOG) High Oleic contracts. ADM is at $22.80 cash and $22.30 AOG. Cargill is at $22.70 cash and $22.20 AOG. Colorado Mills is at $23.00 AOG. Something else to consider is the oil premiums that crush plants pay on sunflowers. Sunflower is the only oilseed that pays premiums for oil content above 40%. Considering oil premiums that are offered at the crush plants on oil content above 40% at a rate of 2% price premium for each 1% of oil above 40%; this pushes a contract with 45% oil content gross return 10% higher per cwt. The AOG $22.20-$22.30 contract increases to a range of $24.45-$24.55, and the cash $22.70-$23.00 contract moves up to $25.00-$25.30.
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