Confectionary Sunseed Plantings Soar

WASHINGTON - Jun 30/10 - SNS --Area planted to sunflower in 2010 totals 2.09 million acres, up 3% from 2009 as decline in oil-type seedings are offset by a jump in confectionary plantings, according to seeded area estimates released by the USDA today.

Harvested area is expected to increase 57,800 acres from last year to 2.01 million acres. Planted area of oil type varieties, at 1.65 million acres, is down 3% from 2009, however the non-oil varieties, estimated at 441,000 acres, are up 33% from last year.

Acreage decreases in Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas were more than offset by increases in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Compared with last year, growers in South Dakota increased planted area by 60,000 acres and growers in Colorado increased planted area by 24,000 acres.

In North Dakota, precipitation during the first part of May led to planting progress lagging behind the 5-year average for most of the month, but progress was ahead of last year's pace. By June 13, planting progress in North Dakota was 85% complete, equal to last year's pace, but 7 percentage points behind the 5-year average. As of June 13, planting progress was lagging less than 5 points behind normal in Colorado and South Dakota, but was 15 points behind normal in Kansas.