Sunflower demand will keep up with production, which has more
than doubled statewide,
Texas
Cooperative Extension
reports.Dr. Travis
Miller, Extension specialist and Texas A&M University
associate department head for soil and crop sciences, said
38,000 acres were harvested in 2004 and an estimated 80,000
acres will be harvested this year.
"Conditions were good in the High Plains for sunflowers,
with above-average moisture," he said, "Historically, most
of our sunflower production has been in the High Plains, but
in the last couple of years, we have seen a significant
increase in South Texas."
More acres were planted this year on the High Plains because
stormy weather and hail damaged the cotton crop in June,
Miller said. Farmers planted sunflowers to replace lost
cotton acreage.
Dr. Stephen Livingston, Extension agronomist in Corpus
Christi, said sunflowers have become a popular crop choice
in South Texas because of price. Lower-than-average
production in northern states made prices skyrocket.
"The price of sunflowers has increased from 12 (cents) to 16
cents per pound," he said, "and when that happens, it makes
sense to plant what brings profit."
According to the National Sunflower Association, North
Dakota is the leading state for production and South Dakota
ranks second.
"They simply haven't been able to get enough
confectionary-type sunflowers planted in South Dakota," he
said, "and it's a good crop for Texas, (so) I expect acreage
to (continue to increase)."
Miller said confectionary sunflowers "are the type you see
salted and roasted for human consumption, or perhaps in
salad bars to add a little protein and crunch to your salad.
"They have nearly twice the market value of oilseed
sunflowers, although we typically have higher yields on the
oilseed types. Sunflowers are also grown for birdseed."
Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension agronomist in Lubbock, said
harvest was late in South Dakota because weather conditions
delayed planting.
"The quickest way to cover (that) shortfall was to contract
acres below San Antonio, in the Corpus Christi region, and
in the lower Rio Grande Valley."
One of the big reasons sunflowers are in high demand is
because so many people are becoming allergic to peanuts,
Livingston said.
"Sunbutter can substitute for peanut butter, and many school
systems are starting to (use) it."
Trostle said the most recent advancement in oilseed
sunflower is the trademark "NuSun," a mid-oleic oilseed.
"The genetics were developed by USDA (U.S. Department of
Agriculture) in partnership with (the) National Sunflower
Association," he said.
Sunflower oil reduces saturation in fatty acids, making a
better product that can withstand high temperatures during
cooking.
"Products made with NuSun also last longer in storage,"
Trostle said, "and NuSun sunflowers are healthier than many
other oils, including oils from the traditional sunflower."
Demand for sunflower seed is predicted to remain steady,
Livingston said, and Texas farmers are expected to plant
even more in 2006.
The following livestock, crop and weather conditions were
reported by Extension districts:
PANHANDLE: Soil moisture is short to adequate.
Isolated thunderstorms were reported. Corn kernels were
dented in about 90 percent of the fields. Silage harvest
continued. Cotton was rated fair to good; bolls continued to
open. Bollworm and fall armyworms caused problems in many
fields. Verticillium wilt, caused by fungi, was reported.
Peanuts were rated fair to good; leaf spot was reported in
isolated fields. Sorghum was 95 percent headed and 37
percent was coloring. Headworms were reported. Sorghum
silage harvest continued. Soybeans were rated fair to good.
Wheat was 40 percent planted. Rangelands were rated fair.
Cattle were in good condition, but were pestered by flies.
SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is short to adequate.
Warm temperatures were reported. Cotton was in good
condition; farmers are about to defoliate plants and
harvest. Corn harvest started on early hybrids. Sorghum
harvest will begin soon. Irrigated yield potential looked
good, but less will be harvested in some dryland fields due
to dry conditions. Winter wheat planting continued. Pumpkin
harvest started. Reported yields were average. Peanuts were
in good condition. They had grown rapidly and were maturing
nicely. Pastures and rangelands were in fair to good
condition; native grasses did well. Cattle were in good
condition.
ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture is short. Dry
conditions continued. Water for livestock was a concern to
area ranchers. Fields were prepped for winter crops. Cotton
matured quickly in the hot, dry weather. Rangelands and
pastures were still in good shape. Many livestock producers
weaned calves and fed hay to cattle. Wheat planting was
stalled due to dry conditions.
NORTH: Soil moisture is very short to short. Hot, dry
conditions continued. Grain sorghums and soybeans were being
harvested; early yields were below average. Corn harvest was
almost complete, and yields were slightly below average.
Rangelands and pastures were drying up. Many ponds were
reported completely dry. Grasshoppers and armyworms were
reported in Hopkins County.
EAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is short. Hot, dry
conditions were reported. Hay harvest continued. Dry
condition hampered the preparation for winter pasture
planting. Continued armyworm infestations and horn flies
were reported. Cattle remained in good condition. Producers
weaned calves. Sweet potatoes were dug up.
FAR WEST: Soil moisture is short to adequate.
Moderate temperatures were reported. Cotton was in fair to
excellent condition. Pastures, rangelands and livestock were
in poor to good condition. Farmers began preparing fields
for wheat planting. Pecans entered the "hardening" stage.
Livestock remained in good condition; ranchers prepared for
fall weaning and vaccinations and to ship stocker cattle.
WEST CENTRAL: Soil moisture is short to
adequate. Very hot, dry conditions were reported. Crops
progressed well. Cotton bolls began to open; worms were a
problem in some fields. Hay was hauled out of fields. Some
hay fields were grazed out and will be planted with small
grains. Other fields were prepared for fall planting. Some
producers were waiting for rain before planting. Rangeland
and pasture conditions were fair to good but needed rain.
Livestock remained in fair to good condition; cattle prices
held steady. Pecan orchards were irrigated.
CENTRAL: Soil moisture is very short. Farm work was
slowed due to lack of rain. Cattle were given supplemental
feed. Cotton yields were higher that expected with one bale
per acre. Pecan yields are expected to improve from last
year. Pecan weevils and shuckworms were reported. Small
grains were planted.
SOUTHEAST: Soil moisture is short. Scattered showers
were reported. Soybeans suffered from drought. Ratoon rice
crop looked good. Armyworms were reported. Livestock was in
fair to good condition. Peanuts need rain. Hay production
slowed due to dry conditions. Feral hogs were reported in
hay meadows, lawns and pastures.
SOUTHWEST: Soil
moisture is short. Cooler afternoons and sporadic rain
showers were reported. Cotton harvest was stalled due to
rain; some modules stored in fields may be damaged. Almost
one-half of the district's harvest is stored in field
modules; some were sitting in 2 to 3 inches of rain water.
The quality of some of that cotton is expected to be lower.
Peanuts, cabbage and other fall vegetables will benefit from
recent rain and cool weather. Most producers applied
pre-plant irrigation to fields.
COASTAL BEND: Soil moisture is short to
adequate. Light rainfall and cooler temperatures were
reported. Farmers began deep-tilling fields and cotton stalk
destruction. Pastures needed rainfall. Livestock were fed
supplements due to lack of forage. Soil was prepared for
fall vegetables.
SOUTH: Soil moisture is short. Conditions improved
due to rain. Fall planting preparations continued. Producers
pre-irrigated fields for cabbage and spinach. Fall melon
planting was completed and under heavy irrigation. Dryland
oat and wheat planting was stalled due to extremely dry
field conditions. Ginning of this year's cotton crop
continued. Corn progressed well. Scattered showers improved
pastures and rangelands. Supplemental livestock feeding was
reported.