U.S. sunflower industry rebounds with historic production
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 2025 U.S. sunflower production totaled 2.32 billion pounds, up 103 percent from the record-low production of 2024.
Sunflower yields
The average U.S. yield of 1,863 pounds per acre increased 193 pounds from 2024 and was the highest on record for the U.S.
Planted area at 1.29 million acres was 79 percent more than the previous year. Area harvested increased 82 percent from 2024 to 1.25 million acres.
North Dakota maintained its status as the leading sunflower-producing state during 2025 with total production of 1.09 billion pounds, an increase of 111 percent from 2024. Compared with 2024, planted area in North Dakota increased 89 percent, and yield increased 206 pounds to 1,958 pounds per acre.
Meanwhile, production in South Dakota increased 86 percent from 2024 to 866 million pounds.
Planted acreage in South Dakota, at 449,000 acres, increased 61 percent from the previous year. The average yield in South Dakota increased 228 pounds from 2024 to a record-high 1,974 pounds per acre.
Factors driving the increase
USDA estimated U.S. production of oil-type sunflower varieties at 2.13 billion pounds, representing an increase of 126 percent from 2024.
Compared with last year, harvested acres were up 104 percent, and the average yield increased by 184 pounds to a record-high 1,848 pounds per acre.
Production of confection sunflower varieties was estimated at 189 million pounds, a decrease of four percent from 2024. Area harvested at 92,200 acres was down 21 percent from 2024. The average yield increased by 354 pounds from 2024 to 2,054 pounds per acre.
In its January grain stocks report, USDA pegged old-crop sunflower stocks in all positions at 209 million pounds, down 63 percent from a year ago. All stocks stored on farms totaled 21.2 million pounds, and off-farm stocks totaled 187.8 million pounds.
Stocks of oil-type sunflower seed are 170.6 million pounds. Of this total, 15.4 million pounds are on-farm stocks and 155.2 million pounds are off-farm stocks. USDA left old-crop oil-type sunflower stocks unchanged from its September report.
Oil-type sunflower seed stocks are 66 percent lower than last year and were in line with trade expectations. USDA left old-crop non-oil sunflower stocks unchanged from its September report as well.
Non-oil sunflower stocks totaled 38.4 million pounds, with 5.9 million pounds stored on the farm and 32.5 million pounds stored off the farm. Non-oil stocks are down 44 percent from last year and in line with industry estimates.
The main market mover from April onward will be USDA’s March Prospective Plantings Report. Trade expectations about planted acreage will likely be in a wide range, and the competition for acres will be intense before planting gets underway.
New-crop sunflower prices are penciling out well, as crushers and confection processors are out with attractive 2026 production contracts.
John Sandbakken is the executive director of the National Sunflower Association. This article was originally published by the Dakota Farmer on Jan. 23.
