Sunflower seed price hike. Worldwide or local?

[Sparklee]

Sunflower seeds have gone up for a 50 pound bag from $22 in May to $32 the other day. What gives? This sort of price increase can't possibly be attributed to inflation alone. So what's up? Anyone know?

And yes, these are necessary for our feed as it's the chickens' "fat" source since we don't use soy.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:

And yes, these are necessary for our feed as it's the chickens' "fat" source since we don't use soy.

Isn't that a little over kill using Sunflower Seed to replace the fat of Soybean Meal?
Soybean Meal is only 3 to 6 percent fat where Black Oil Sunflower Seeds are around 28 percent fat.

Chris​

 

[nop169]

I don't know the reason why but here in upstate sc it has gone up from $18.00 per 50 lbs a few months ago to currently $36.00 per 50 lb (good clean black oil seed). I do know that many of the chain restraunts started using sunflower oil last year & caused a shortage & price increase but as too current reason ?????

 

[Merryment]

The price might come down after the harvest, which should be immanent. Or not, If they're having drought problems in Kansas and other states that grow lots of sunflower.

 

[southerndesert]

The reason has much to do with cost of fuel and processing having gone up so high.... Not likely to get any relief anytime soon.

 

[pjknust]

I give my hens finely chopped cooked bacon a couple times a week. I mix it in cooked brown rice. They love it.

pam in TX

 

[Denninmi]

The price of black oil sunflower seeds is way up here, too. Its a global supply and demand issue, with drought and energy prices pushing it up, as well as ever increasing demand from consumers in places like China and India. China's economy is on fire, they had almost 10% GDP gain in the second quarter. They are much more affluent than years ago and can afford imported items like American sunflower oil. Plus the fact that companies like Lays switched to sunflower oil as a "healthy" alternative to soy and canola for their snack foods.

Black gold, basically.

 

[hennyannie]

Also I am hearing some corn gossip, Seems that some places are having a hard year and the price is about skyrocket.
Not good if you buy feed.

 

[Katy]

A good portion of our state that grow grains as well as a lot of Oklahoma and Texas are in a drought. Speaking from our area the dryland corn is for lots of areas a total loss. It's being chopped for silage or baled for hay. Even our irrigated corn probably will take a hit in bushels produced simply because of the 100+ temps we've been having during the critical pollination time. The dryland soybeans are also on the verge of being a total loss. Sunflowers probably more than the others simply because of their long taproot will weather the lack of rain a little better if they were planted early enough. A lot of guys double crop them into their wheat stubble about this time of summer and I doubt with pretty much no subsoil moisture that very many will be doing that this year.

 

[LoDoSilkies]

Lower midwest is in a serious drought that's killing off crops. Upper midwest is flooding something horrible that's killing off crops.

Price increase due to suspected lack of supply in the future.

There is an increase in use of sunflower oil in products.

Price increase due to higher demand.

I don't get the desire to use sunflower over soy. Sunflower oil has some studies showing that it increases cancer risk also. Once I get home, I'll dig them out.

I prefer to use a manner of all things can be bad in excess, some things may be bad in all forms, but most things are ok in moderation. So the ladies get some sunflower seeds and some soy, not a bunch of either, and they seem to be doing fine.