USDA released its first production estimate for the 2020 sunflower crop and made some adjustments for the 2019 crop as well.
National Sunflower Association executive director John Sandbakken says the first production forecast for 2020 is 2.81 billion pounds, up 44 percent from the revised 2019 production of 1.96 billion pounds, and is the highest since 2015. Area planted, at 1.70 million acres, is up 10 percent from the June estimate and up 26 percent from last year. Sunflower growers expect to harvest 1.62 million acres, up 10 percent from the June forecast and up 29 percent from 2019. Acreage updates were made in several States based on a thorough review of all available data.
The October yield forecast, at 1,730 pounds per acre, is 170 pounds higher than last year’s yield and will be just one pound less than the record high average yield for the Nation, if realized. As of October 1, higher yields are expected in 5 of the 8 published States compared with last year, with decreases only expected in California, Minnesota, and Texas.
The forecasted production in North Dakota, the leading sunflower-producing State this year, is 1.23 billion pounds, an increase of 64 percent from 2019. Compared with last year, the average yield forecast in North Dakota is up 245 pounds per acre from 2019 and will be the highest yield on record, if realized. In South Dakota, the average yield is forecast at 1,867 pounds per acre, up 173 pounds per acre from last year and will represent the second highest yield on record, if realized.
The next estimate will be released in January 2021.
Based on October 1 conditions, South Dakota’s 2020 corn production is forecast at 752 million bushels, up 35% from last year’s production, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area to be harvested for grain, at 4.56 million acres, is up 18% from a year ago. Yield is forecast at 165 bushels per acre, a record high if realized, up 21 bushels from last year.
Soybean production is forecast at 235 million bushels, up 61% from last year. Area for harvest, at 4.90 million acres, is up 42% from 2019. Yield is forecast at 48 bushels per acre, up 5.5 bushels from last year.
Sorghum for grain is forecast at 8.60 million bushels, down 39% from last year. Area for harvest, at 100,000 acres, is down 43% from 2019. Yield is forecast at a record high 86 bushels per acre if realized, up 6 bushels from last year.
Alfalfa hay production, at 4.07 million tons, is down 9% from last year. Area for harvest, at 1.85 million acres, is down 3% from a year ago. Yield of 2.20 tons per acre, is down 0.15 ton from 2019. All other hay production, at 2.40 million tons, is down 5% from last year. Area for harvest, at 1.50 million acres, is up 3% from a year ago. Yield of 1.60 tons per acre, is down 0.15 ton from 2019.
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