Sunflower planted area in the USA dropped to a record low in the 2024/25 marketing year, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
This reduction in planted area – to around half of the previous year’s level – was due to lower profitability compared with other oilseed crops, such as canola and soyabeans, the 4 November report said.
According to the report, the largest decline in acreage was for the variety of sunflower that is grown for its oil content and also used in bird food.
Although, on average, oil-type sunflower acreage accounted for around 90% of total sunflower acreage, in 2024/25 it was expected to total 83%.
The biggest reduction in planted area was in the two leading producer states, North Dakota and South Dakota, the report said.
Sunflower stocks at the end of 2023/24 were at their highest level since 2016/17, contributing to the lowest average farm price since 2019/20.
In addition, the expansion of canola and soyabean processing facilities in North Dakota had created new domestic demand for those oilseeds, supporting the expansion of canola and soyabean acreage at the expense of sunflower planted area, the report said.
While the planted acreage was at a record low, yields in 2024/25 were forecast at a record high due to peak growing conditions in the Dakotas.
Despite this, total sunflower production in 2024/25 was forecast at 1.3bn pounds (589,670 tonnes) the lowest level since 1976/77.
