STAT Communications Ag Market News

Confection Sunflower Area May Jump 32%

WASHINGTON - Mar 31/20 - SNS -- Sunflower growers intend to plant 1.56 million acres in 2020, an increase of 15% from 2019, according to the USDA.

If realized, this will be the highest planted area for the Nation since 2016, but still the fifth lowest planted area since 1976.

Compared with last year, growers in seven of the eight major sunflower-producing States expect an increase in acreage this year. The only State expecting a decline is California, where planted area is expected to be down less than 1,000 acres from last year.

Area intended for oil type varieties, at 1.36 million acres, is up 13% from 2019, but will be the seventh lowest since 1976, if realized. Compared with last year, growers in seven of the eight major sunflower-producing States expect an increase in acreage for oil type varieties or are unchanged this year. The only State expecting a decline is Colorado, where the expected planted area of 43,000 acres will represent the third lowest on record, if realized.

Area intended for non-oil varieties, at 202,000 acres, is up 32% from last year and if realized will be the highest planted area for the Nation since 2015. Record low planted area for non-oil varieties is expected in California.

Sunflower Area Planted by Type - States and United States: 2018-2020
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Varietal type   :                                 Area planted
      and State     :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :       2018        :       2019        :      2020 1/      :    Percent of
                    :                   :                   :                   :   previous year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :      ----------------- 1,000 acres -----------------             percent
                    :
Oil                 :
California .........:         58.0                49.0                49.0               100
Colorado ...........:         58.0                47.0                43.0                91
Kansas .............:         43.0                37.0                60.0               162
Minnesota ..........:         45.0                53.0                71.0               134
Nebraska ...........:         25.0                28.0                30.0               107
North Dakota .......:        395.0               470.0               500.0               106
South Dakota .......:        520.0               485.0               570.0               118
Texas ..............:         20.0                28.0                33.0               118
                    :
United States ......:      1,164.0             1,197.0             1,356.0               113
                    :
Non-oil             :
California .........:          2.0                 1.6                 1.0                63
Colorado ...........:          8.0                12.0                20.0               167
Kansas .............:         10.0                 8.0                20.0               250
Minnesota ..........:          7.5                 5.0                 6.0               120
Nebraska ...........:         12.0                 9.0                10.0               111
North Dakota .......:         41.0                65.0                70.0               108
South Dakota .......:         51.0                48.0                50.0               104
Texas ..............:          5.5                 5.0                25.0               500
                    :
United States ......:        137.0               153.6               202.0               132
                    :
All                 :
California .........:         60.0                50.6                50.0                99
Colorado ...........:         66.0                59.0                63.0               107
Kansas .............:         53.0                45.0                80.0               178
Minnesota ..........:         52.5                58.0                77.0               133
Nebraska ...........:         37.0                37.0                40.0               108
North Dakota .......:        436.0               535.0               570.0               107
South Dakota .......:        571.0               533.0               620.0               116
Texas ..............:         25.5                33.0                58.0               176
                    :
United States ......:      1,301.0             1,350.6             1,558.0               115
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Intended plantings in 2020 as indicated by reports from farmers.

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