USDA Says Sunflower Acreage Up 5% from 2025
The area planted to sunflower in 2026 totals 1.35 million acres, up 5% from 2025. That’s according to the most recent report from USDA, released June 30. Compared with last year, planted acreage in five of the eight major sunflower producing states increased this year, with two of the states increasing by more than 10%.
The state with the largest increase in acreage from 2025 is South Dakota, where planted area increased by 56,000 acres compared with last year, says USDA. Harvested area for sunflower was forecast at 1.30 million acres in the June report, an increase of 4% from last year.
Planted area of oil-type varieties, at 1.22 million acres, is up 3% from last year, according to USDA. Compared with last year, planted area of oil-type varieties are up more than 5% in California, North Dakota and South Dakota. Planted and harvested area in Nebraska represent the lowest on record.
Area planted to nonoil varieties, estimated at 124,000 acres, is up 25% from last year. Compared with last year, growers in California, Kansas, Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas reported acreage increases of 30% or more in nonoil varieties. The planted area for nonoil type varieties is the lowest on record in Colorado and Nebraska.
Scharpe Succeeds Young as S.D. Council Executive
Jennifer Scharpe (on the right) is the new executive director of the South Dakota Oilseeds Council (SDOC), having succeeded Tom Young, effective June 30. Scharpe, who also remains as executive director of the South Dakota Wheat Growers Association, carries 16 years of nonprofit leadership and agricultural communications experience to her new position.
Young (on the left) is a long-serving oilseeds leader, having first joined the SDOC Board of Directors in 1999. He became the group’s executive director in 2018. Young also served on the board of the National Sunflower Association for 14 years, from 2000 to 2014, including two years as NSA president and another two years as board chairman.
Canadian Sunflower Acreage Up Slightly
Statistics Canada says Canadian farmers planted 76,500 acres of sunflower this spring, up 1% from 2025. The 2026 acreage is, however, 9% below the five-year average of 84,065 acres. The majority of Canada’s sunflower crop is in Manitoba, with production also in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Dowdle & Smude Re-elected to Minnesota Council
Tom Dowdle and Tom Smude have been re-elected to the Minnesota Sunflower Council to serve three-year terms. Dowdle farms at Kennedy, Minn., and represents Region 1. He is currently 2nd vice president of the National Sunflower Association. Smude farms near Pierz, Minn., and represents Region 2.
Suggestions Welcomed for Magazine Issues
The National Sunflower Association continues to invite article suggestions for The Sunflower magazine — an industry fixture since 1975. “Our goal with the magazine is to provide news and articles of real interest and use to our readership — which consists mainly of sunflower producers around the U.S. and Canada, along with industry personnel,” says John Sandbakken, NSA executive director and magazine editor.
Story suggestions can be submitted to Sandbakken at johns@sunflowernsa.com