Solid Gain in Sunseed Crop

WASHINGTON - Oct 10/08 - SNS -- The first sunflower production forecast for the year is 3.48 billion pounds in the United States, up 21% from 2007 and up 63% from 2006, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Area planted, at 2.53 million acres, is up 17% from the June estimate and up 22% from last year. Sunflower growers expect to harvest 2.41 million acres, up 17% from June and up 20% from the 2007 acreage. The October yield forecast, at 1,449 pounds, is 13 pounds higher than last year.

As of October 1, higher yields are expected in four of the seven major sunflower-producing States, with only Colorado, Kansas, and Texas farmers expecting lower yields compared with last year. In North Dakota, the largest sunflower-producing State, the yield is forecast at 1,444 pounds per acre, up 30 pounds from the 2007 yield.

As of September 28, 60% of the sunflower crop in North Dakota was rated good to excellent, compared with 80% at the same time last year. Rainfall and below normal temperatures during June across the northern Great Plains slowed progress early and development of the sunflower crop has generally lagged behind normal throughout the season. As of the end of September, harvest had not started in the Dakotas, behind last year and normal.

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