37% Advance in U.S. Sunfower Output

WASHINGTON - Jan 11/13 - SNS -- The 2012 sunflower crop in the United States finished at 2.79 billion pounds, up 37% from 2011, according to the USDA's final crop report for 2012.

The United States average yield per acre increased 115 pounds from last year to 1,513 pounds. Planted area, at 1.92 million acres, is 24% above last year, but is the third lowest since 1990. Area harvested increased 26% from last year to 1.84 million acres.

Production in North Dakota, the leading sunflower-producing State, is estimated at 1.46 billion pounds, up 91% from 2011. The yield in North Dakota, at a record high 1,732 pounds per acre, is up 366 pounds from 2011. Compared with last year, planted area in North Dakota increased 48% and harvested area increased 50%. The average yield in Nebraska, at 740 pounds per acre, is down over 660 pounds from last year due to drought conditions this year and is the second lowest on record. Extremely dry weather also hampered yields in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Meanwhile, much better growing conditions were prevalent this year in Minnesota where the average yield of 1,755 pounds per acre is the third highest on record.