Sunflower Acreage in the U.S. to Rise Nearly 50% in 2025

U.S. farmers plan to significantly expand sunflower plantings in 2025, with total intended acreage reaching 1.07 million — a 49% increase compared to last year’s record-low levels, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The largest growth is expected in North Dakota, where oil-type sunflower acreage is set to rise by 62% to 960,500 acres. In contrast, non-oil sunflower plantings are projected to decrease by 12%.

This expansion is largely driven by tight seed inventories. As of March 1, total sunflower seed stocks stood at 564 million pounds, down 52% year-on-year. Of this, 426 million pounds were oil-type seeds — a 59% drop from the previous year. Non-oil stocks, however, increased 7% to 138 million pounds, which may explain the lower enthusiasm for planting this variety.

Despite the projected increase in acreage, crushers and confection processors continue to offer contracts for the 2025 crop. New-crop prices remain competitive with other specialty oilseeds, and farmers can benefit from a 2% price bonus for every 1% of oil content above 40%, which could significantly boost returns.

Sunflowers remain a strong option for late-season planting, with final insurance planting dates extending into mid-to-late June depending on the state and county. For example, in North Dakota, the insurance cutoff is June 10 or 15, and the actual last planting date may extend 20–25 days beyond that. Farmers can find planting deadlines and buyer contacts at the National Sunflower Association website, sunflowernsa.com.

Tags: USA, sown area, sunseed