Sunseed Inventories Leap 52%

WASHINGTON - Mar 31/16 - SNS -- Sunflower stocks in all positions on March 1, 2016 totaled 1.06 billion pounds, 52% above last year, according to the USDA.

All stocks stored on farms totaled 461 million pounds and off-farm stocks totaled 599 million pounds. The jump in inventories was likely a major concern for farmers, causing them to reduce intended seedings this year.

Stocks of oil type sunflower seed are 768 million pounds; of this total, 325 million pounds are on-farm stocks and 443 million pounds are off-farm stocks. Non-oil sunflower stocks totaled 292 million pounds, with 136 million pounds stored on the farm and 156 million pounds stored off the farm.

Sunflower Stocks by Position and Type - States and United States:
March 1, 2015 and 2016
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :               2015               :               2016
  Varietal type :---------------------------------------------------------------------
    and State   :    On     :   Off    : Total all :    On     :   Off    : Total all
                :   farms   : farms 1/ : positions :   farms   : farms 1/ : positions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                            1,000 pounds
                :
Oil             :
North Dakota ...:  100,000    165,068     265,068     145,000    263,081      408,081
                :
Other States ...:   97,050    142,474     239,524     179,800    180,121      359,921
                :
United States ..:  197,050    307,542     504,592     324,800    443,202      768,002
                :
Non-oil         :
North Dakota ...:   25,000     53,727      78,727      60,000     72,016      132,016
                :
Other States ...:   36,400     77,563     113,963      76,400     84,022      160,422
                :
United States ..:   61,400    131,290     192,690     136,400    156,038      292,438
                :
All             :
North Dakota ...:  125,000    218,795     343,795     205,000    335,097      540,097
                :
Other States ...:  133,450    220,037     353,487     256,200    264,143      520,343
                :
United States ..:  258,450    438,832     697,282     461,200    599,240    1,060,440
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Includes stocks at mills, elevators, warehouses, terminals, and processors.