Solid Increase in Sunseed Harvest

WASHINGTON - Jan 11/08 - SNS -- The 2007 sunflower production totals 2.89 billion pounds, up 35% from 2006 but down 28% from 2005, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) final crop report for 2007.

The U.S. average yield per acre increased 226 pounds from last year to 1,437 pounds. Planted area, at 2.07 million acres, is 6% above last year but 24% below 2005. Area harvested increased 14% from last year to 2.01 million acres.

U.S. production of oil-type sunflower varieties, at 2.50 billion pounds, increased 40% from 2006. Harvested acres are up 13% from the previous year and the yield increased by 273 pounds to 1,454 pounds per acre. A record high yield for oil type sunflower varieties in Texas was set at 1,700 pounds per acre.

Production of non-oil sunflower varieties, at 392 million pounds, increased 10% from last year. Area harvested, at 292,500 acres, is up 14% from 2006. The average yield decreased by 50 pounds from last year to 1,339 pounds per acre. The record high yield for non-oil sunflower varieties was tied in South Dakota, at 1,700 pounds per acre.

Combined production in North Dakota, the leading sunflower-producing State, is estimated at 1.49 billion pounds, up 34% from 2006. The yield in North Dakota, at 1,414 pounds per acre, is up 118 pounds from 2006. Compared with last year, planted and harvested area in North Dakota increased by 19 and 23%, respectively. Yields, compared with last year, are up in all major sunflower-producing States except Minnesota. The yield in Minnesota, at 1,508 pounds per acre, is down 248 pounds from last year's yield of 1,756 pounds per acre, which was the second highest yield on record.

As harvest of sunflowers began in late September, progress in Colorado was well ahead of normal but lagged behind normal in Kansas and South Dakota. As of September 30, harvest was already 39% complete in Colorado, compared with the 5-year average of 12%. Meanwhile,

Kansas and South Dakota were 9 and 7 points behind normal, respectively. Through October, harvest in the four major producing States progressed behind last year and the 5-year average as periods of heavy rain during the month slowed harvest. By October 28, harvest was 50% complete, compared with 64% last year and the 5-year average of 58%. By November 18, conditions had improved and harvest progressed to 96% complete.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here