# Sunflower Meal Leads the Protein Board at 73% of Soybean Meal _Jun 25, 2026_ > Sunflower meal is the cheapest protein this week at $0.240/lb CP (dry-matter basis), 73% of soybean meal, per USDA. Hominy feed leads on energy at $0.076/lb TDN, 81% of corn. Fats are 45 to 80% above 5-year medians. Sunflower meal is the cheapest protein on the USDA feedstuffs board this week at **$0.240 per lb of crude protein on a dry-matter basis, 73% of soybean meal's cost per lb of crude protein**. Feather meal follows at $0.255 per lb CP (78% of soybean meal). DDGS, at approximately $160/ton, delivers protein at $0.301 per lb CP (92% of soybean meal) but sits above the corn benchmark on energy at 108% of corn's cost per lb of TDN. [Chart: Sunflower meal price ($/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 leaderboard:** Hominy feed is the cheapest energy source this week at **$0.076 per lb of TDN (81% of corn)**, with soybean hulls next at $0.090 per lb TDN (96% of corn). Figures are dry-matter basis using published book-value nutrient coefficients, per USDA-sourced prices. - **Benchmarks flat on the week:** Corn (US #2 yellow) is at $4.06/bu, approximately $145/ton delivered to ethanol plants, 5% below its 5-year median per USDA. Soybean meal is at approximately $312/ton FOB, 3% below its 5-year median. Neither moved materially on the week. - **Fats well above historical norms:** Yellow grease (California Central Coast, FOB plant) is at $60/ton, 80% above its 5-year median per USDA, easing 3% on the week. Choice white grease (Minnesota, FOB plant) is at $82/ton, 56% above its 5-year median, easing 1% on the week. - **Midwest white grease:** Choice white grease (Chicago, IL, delivered) is at $72/ton, 45% above its 5-year median per USDA. - **Almond hulls below historical norms (stale data):** California Sacramento Valley (FOB plant) almond hulls are quoted at $70/ton, 51% below the 5-year median. California South (FOB plant) is at $95/ton, 44% below its 5-year median. Both series are flagged as not updated in more than two weeks. 38 USDA series, including almond hulls, alfalfa pellets and barley, have not updated in more than two weeks. Prices from these series should be treated as stale. --- Canonical URL: https://the-ration.com/issues/2026-06-25