STAT Communications Ag Market News

Safflower Seedings Sink 13%

WASHINGTON - Jun 30/20 - SNS - Area planted to safflower is estimated at 145,000 acres in 2020, down 13% from 2019 and represents the second lowest planted area for the U.S. since records began in 1991, according to the USDA's seeded area estimate for 2020.

Area for harvest is forecast at 137,500 acres, down 10% from last year and will be the second lowest harvested area on record, if realized.

Growers in California, the largest State in terms of planted area in 2019, planted only 35,000 acres in 2020, a decline of 22,000 acres from last year and represents the lowest planted area for California since records began in 2005.

Additionally, planted area in Idaho is the lowest since data began to be published for Idaho in 2016. Conversely, planted area in Montana, at 55,000 acres, is a record high.

Safflower Area Planted and Harvested - States and United States: 2019 and 2020
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :         Area planted          :        Area harvested
      State     :---------------------------------------------------------------
                :     2019      :     2020      :     2019      :    2020 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                          1,000 acres
                :
California .....:      57.0            35.0            57.0            35.0
Idaho ..........:      29.0            17.0            28.5            16.5
Montana ........:      53.0            55.0            43.0            51.0
South Dakota ...:      13.8            21.0            11.5            19.0
Utah ...........:      13.0            17.0            12.7            16.0
                :
United States ..:     165.8           145.0           152.7           137.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Forecasted.

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