Oil Sunflower Area Down, Confection Up

WASHINGTON - Jun 28/13 - SNS -- Area planted to sunflower in 2013 totals 1.57 million acres, down 18% from 2012, according to the USDA seeded area estimates for 2013, with oil-type sunflower falling even as confectionary sunflower seedings rose.

Harvested area is expected to decrease 18% from last year to 1.50 million acres. Planted area of oil type varieties, at 1.27 million acres, is down 24% from 2012, and is the lowest since 1976. Planted area of oil varieties in Colorado is the lowest since 1996 when 45,000 acres were also planted. Planted area of oil varieties in Kansas is the lowest since 1990 and in North Dakota is the lowest since 1976.

Planted acreage of non-oil varieties, estimated at 299,000 acres, is up 15% from last year. For the first time, planted area for all sunflower varieties is higher in South Dakota than North Dakota.

Planting began much later than normal in most areas due to cool spring temperatures and wet conditions. As of May 26, only 9% of the intended crop had been planted, compared with the 5-year average of 26%. Planting progress continued to lag behind normal in all four major States through early June, but planting in Colorado was able to catch up to normal pace by mid-June. As of June 16, producers had planted 55% of the crop in the four major States, 33 percentage points behind last year and 22 percentage points behind the 5-year average.