# Sunflower Meal Leads Protein Board at 67% of Soybean Meal _May 28, 2026_ > Sunflower meal prices at 67% of soybean meal on crude protein this week, leading the USDA feedstuffs board; hominy feed leads energy at 74% of corn; yellow grease is running 50-90% above 5-year medians across California and Midwest markets. Sunflower meal is the cheapest protein source on the USDA feedstuffs board this week, at **$0.240 per pound of crude protein on a dry-matter basis**, 67% of soybean meal's cost per unit. Feather meal prices second at $0.253 per pound CP (70% of soybean meal) and linseed meal third at $0.333 per pound CP (92% of soybean meal). The soybean meal benchmark is about **$344 per ton FOB** after soybeans eased 1% on the week. [Chart: Sunflower meal price ($/ton, as-fed)](https://the-ration.com/ingredient/sunflower-meal) ([data](https://the-ration.com/ingredient/sunflower-meal.md) — chart image: https://the-ration.com/charts/ingredient/sunflower-meal/chart.png) - **Energy board:** Hominy feed leads at **$0.075 per pound of TDN, dry-matter basis** (74% of corn), soybean hulls at $0.092 per pound TDN (90% of corn) and wheat middlings at $0.094 per pound TDN (93% of corn). All nutrient coefficients are book values from published feed tables. - **Corn benchmark, US #2 yellow:** Eased to about **$4.39 per bushel** (~$157/ton as-fed, delivered ethanol plant), down 2% on the week and 3% below the 5-year median per USDA. A softer corn reprices the full energy board. - **DDGS, ~$179/ton:** Scores 93% of soybean meal on crude protein and 112% of corn on TDN, cost per pound of nutrient on a dry-matter basis. It prices below the protein benchmark and above the corn energy benchmark this week. - **Yellow grease, California (FOB plant and delivered):** USDA quotes range from $65/ton FOB to $71/ton delivered, with all regions running 50-90% above 5-year medians. Central Coast FOB at $65/ton is the standout, 90% above median and up 3% on the week. Priced but not scored on the energy leaderboard. - **Choice white grease:** Minnesota FOB at $80/ton (62% above the 5-year median, flat on the week). Chicago, IL delivered at $72/ton (45% above median), per USDA. Week-over-week figure not reported for the Chicago series. - **Almond hulls, California:** Sacramento Valley FOB at $70/ton (51% below the 5-year median) and South California FOB at $95/ton (44% below), per USDA. Both series are flagged stale (not updated in over two weeks); figures may not reflect current market levels. Data note: 40 USDA AMS series, including almond hulls and alfalfa pellets, have not updated in over two weeks. --- Canonical URL: https://the-ration.com/issues/2026-05-28