Nearby prices were up 10 to 50 cents with new crop unchanged this week at the crush plants. Next week USDA releases its latest supply and demand report. The USDA figures are expected to be closely aligned with trade expectations that have been priced into the market. Traders will likely continue to grapple with supplies showing up on the balance sheet as the marketing year unfolds but are more concerned with weather conditions in the U.S. in the near term. Sunflower producers are in the home stretch of wrapping up this year’s planting season. Planting continues in all states and is slightly ahead of the five-year averages in Colorado, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Kansas, South Dakota, and Texas are slightly behind the five-year average planting pace. In the past week, producers made excellent progress and planted an additional 175,200 acres pushing 2025 planted acres to about 464,000 acres. This represents 45% of this year’s projected planted acres and is ahead of the five-year average of 36%. Last year at this same time 35% of total projected acres were planted. Weather conditions are expected to continue to be favorable in the next two weeks for planting. On June 30, USDA will release its 2025 planted acres report and will be an important factor in determining old and new crop prices. Look for demand news and position squaring ahead of USDA’s acreage report to guide the market this week.

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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