(Resource News International) — Sunflowers are starting to come off the field in southern Manitoba, with harvest operations estimated at 10 to 50 per cent complete and yields generally on the poor side, depending on the location.
Prices for oilseed sunflowers have shown some improvement in recent weeks, but confectionary bids remain low despite the smaller crops coming off.
“It was just too wet,” said Earl Schnellert of Agri-Tel Grain at Beausejour, Man.
Early harvested confectionary sunflowers were showing low yields of between 500 and 1,000 pounds per acre, with very light test weights, he said. Oilseed varieties fared a little better, although yields were still below normal.
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Ben Friesen of Keystone Grain at Winkler, Man., said oilseed sunflowers were being harvested in reasonably good shape, but the confectionary crops had some disease issues.
The sunflowers were on the light side overall, he said, but were still showing an improvement over last year. He was hopeful that the quality would improve on later-harvested crops.
From a pricing standpoint, oilseed prices have shown some improvement in recent weeks with current bids in the 18-20 cents per pound area, according to the two merchants.
Schnellert said oilseed sunflower bids were rising in sympathy with the general strength in most other oilseed markets, including canola and soybeans.
However, confectionary bids have not shown the same improvement, with current bids in the 20-24 cents per pound area.
There were so many confectionary sunflowers grown in North and South Dakota this year that the U.S. demand was not as pronounced as it sometimes is, Schnellert said. In addition, Canadian processors only need a limited amount of supply.
Friesen said quality will be the key issue for confectionary sunflowers going forward, with premiums likely for the higher-quality supplies.
