North Dakota has traditionally led in confection sunflower acres. However, this year if estimates prove true and projections are on, Manitoba may have more acres than North Dakota. “It has to do with alternative crops,” said Fred Parnow of Seeds 2000, Crookston, Mn. “When we got into spring time here, the farmers finally realized that confection contract prices were not going to be to the price levels they were in previous years. Wheat futures had a pretty good boost coming into spring.”
Rob Park, Oilseed Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture said ND had 230,000 acres last year, dropping to 125,000 this year, 54 percent of 2005. The confection market overall in the US and Canada is only 54 percent of 2005, dropping to about 350,000 acres this year.
“I definitely think that we will have as much as they do, if not more acres,” said Park. “A good estimate is about 150,000 acres of confections in Manitoba this year.” However, he thinks, it will be tough to get over the 200,000 number for total sunflowers in Manitoba this year. If that number reaches 175,000 acres, he’s willing to bet 150,000 of that will be confections.
While too early for Parnow to report on seed sales by his company in Canada, it appears they could be similar to last year. He believes there are more acres in the western part of Manitoba than in the Red River Valley. Confectionary processors, whether in Canada or the US, still have a good quality and quantity of carryover they’re working with. Once the harvest reports come in, and a bit beyond, the price will could well strengthen.
Parnow thinks that on both sides of the border, the NuSun oilseed prices will push up the confection prices. The NuSun oil, the oil in the barrel, the quality is demanding a higher price.