Old crop sunflower prices were up 25 to 50 cents with new crop down 15 to 75 cents at the crush plants this week. Sunflower planting continues in all states and is slightly ahead of the five-year averages in Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Kansas is slightly behind the five-year average planting pace. In the past two weeks, producers made excellent progress and planted an additional 102,000 acres pushing 2025 planted acres to about 157,000 acres. This represents 15% of this year’s projected planted acres and is ahead of the five-year average of 6%. Last year at this same time 12% of total projected acres were planted. Drier and warmer than normal weather conditions are forecast for the Dakotas and Minnesota and should allow for good planting progress in the week ahead. According to USDA’s May Oil Crops Outlook report, U.S. production of sunflower seed in 2025/26 is expected to increase as acreage intentions are up 49%. The increase from MY 2024/25 is largely driven by oil type sunflower, whereas confection sunflower area remained relatively steady. Using a trend yield of 1,766 pounds per acre, U.S. sunflower seed production is forecast to rise to 1.8 billion pounds. Oil type sunflower production represents 1.6 billion pounds of this total, up 72% from MY 2024/25. Global sunflower production in 2025/26 is forecast to increase 8 percent from the previous year to 56.2 million metric tons.

2025 new crop sunflower prices at the crush plants are available at cash $21.90-$22.40 and Act of God (AOG) $21.40-$21.90. 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 $22.40 contract increases to $24.65. 

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