Solid Increase in Sunseed Acreage

WASHINGTON - Jun 29/12 - SNS -- Sunflower plantings in the United States were pegged at 1.80 million acres, up 17% from 2011, according to the USDA's seeded area estimates for 2012.

Harvested area is expected to increase 19% from last year to 1.74 million acres. Planted area of oil type varieties, at 1.50 million acres, is up 16% from 2011, but is still the third lowest since 1990. Planted area of oil varieties in Kansas is the lowest since 1992 and in Minnesota is the lowest on record.

Planted acreage of non-oil varieties, estimated at 308,500 acres, is up 22% from last year. Planted area of non-oil varieties in North Dakota is the second lowest since 1970.

Planting began in limited locations in early May and by the end of the month progress was ahead of last year's pace and ahead of normal in all four major producing States. As of June 10, producers had planted 80% of the crop in the four major States, 33 percentage points ahead of last year and 21 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. In North Dakota, the leading-sunflower State in terms of planted area, conditions were much improved compared with last year when wet conditions hampered planting. By June 10, planting progress in North Dakota reached 96% complete, 43 percentage points ahead of last year's pace and 18 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average.