Reports continue to indicate that oil supplies are expected to tighten significantly in the 2016-17 marketing year as world consumption outstrips production, says John Sandbakken, National Sunflower Association executive director.

Despite record vegetable oil production this year, and essentially over the past three years, world vegetable oil stocks have been drawn down for four consecutive years. Some are suggesting that world vegetable oil stocks will end up at the lowest levels since the 2011-12 season, he says.

VEG OIL: Sunflower oil prices follow vegetable oil prices and vegetable oil stocks look as if they are tightening. (Photo: serezniy/iStock/Thinkstock)

“This would allow world vegetable oil markets to firm up, with the market becoming more oil-driven rather than meal. This is positive news for sunflower as seed prices are primarily based on oil values.”

WinField, Syngenta team up on sunflowers
The WinField United business and Syngenta entered into a license agreement concerning Syngenta sunflower germplasm. The agreement provides the WinField United business access to elite sunflower genetics currently marketed through Syngenta, as well as a first right to certain new genetics.

“As a result of this agreement, the Croplan brand is well positioned to provide one of the broadest offerings of sunflower genetics for years to come,” says Mark Torno, Croplan diverse field crops marketing manager.

Texas A&M partners with Advanta
Advanta Seeds has partnered with Texas A&M AgriLife Research for seed technology research and development. The establishment of a new Advanta Seeds biotech research station will enhance the areas of mutual benefit between these two organizations. These include the breeding of sorghum, tropical and subtropical corn, tomatoes, and hot peppers, as well as applying molecular markers to plant breeding in sunflower, canola, wheat and rice, among other crops. The research station aims to support all global research programs of Advanta Seeds. Advanta Seeds is an international leader in the research, development, production and sale of high-performance seeds and agricultural solutions.

Longhorn stem borer found
The Dectes stem borer, also referred to as the longhorn stem borer, was found in sunflowers in South Dakota’s Hughes and Sully counties last fall, according to South Dakota State University specialists. The insect lives inside the sunflower stalk as a white larva. In many cases, the stalk boring has no measurable impact on seed yield or oil content. However, significant losses can occur when the insect girdles the sunflower plant and causes lodging. Dectes larvae cannot physically girdle a radius greater than about one-half inch. Therefore, lodging will occur more frequently in situations of high plant density and drought conditions that lead to a small stalk diameter. Careful control of plant spacing to manage stalk radius and other cultural practices that preserve soil moisture are all beneficial. Dectes can be a pest in soybeans and is hosted by many weeds, including cocklebur and ragweed.

Sources: National Sunflower Association and SDSU