According to the initial USDA Farm Service Agency Crop Acreage report, area planted to sunflowers in 2026 increased 6% from 2025, totaling about 1.36 million acres.
The planted area of oil-type varieties, at about 1.25 million acres, is up 5% from 2025. Planted acreage of non-oil varieties, estimated at 113,600 acres, increased 15% from last year.
2026 U.S. sunflower production is still undetermined and will not be known until later this year.
Most of the sunflower crop has been rated in the good to excellent categories throughout the growing season, meaning yields should be above trend, assuming normal weather through the rest of the fall.
Initial estimates of total oil and non-oil sunflower production are in the range of 2.1 billion to 2.2 billion pounds, which is about equal to last year’s crop. USDA will release its final acreage and production estimates in January.
What will yields hold?
Harvest of the U.S. sunflower crop has just gotten started as of this writing in mid-September. Initial yield reports are positive, and quality is generally very good. Depending on the size of the 2026 crop, seed prices could drift lower as harvest deliveries arrive at plants and farmers pick up the selling pace in the next couple of months.
After the initial harvest delivery period, prices will follow demand news.
The market also continues to watch developments in the Black Sea region. Russia and Ukraine have been attacking port infrastructure and vessels hauling sunflower seed, oil and meal, curbing the amount available for export.
The situation bears watching, as Russia and Ukraine are the largest exporters of sunflower oil. In addition, European Union sunflower production forecast for marketing year 2026-27 was reduced by USDA on a lower yield forecast. France experienced high temperatures and dry conditions, resulting in this yield decline.
The potential reduced availability of sunflower seed and oil production from these countries poses risks for global markets, and prices will be responsive to potential production shortfalls.
With harvest in progress in Northern Hemisphere countries, the market is beginning to look at 2027 production prospects in the Southern Hemisphere.
Farmers in both Brazil and Argentina are talking about an increase in 2027 oilseed acres. If realized, this could put pressure on U.S. new-crop oilseed prices this fall into winter.
U.S. producers also are looking at crop options for 2027, and crush plants are expected to be out early offering new-crop high-oleic contracts that have cash or act of God production clauses. They will want to maintain the acreage gained this year, so new-crop sunflower prices are expected to be very competitive in relation to other crops.
Something else to keep in mind is oil premiums that are paid on sunflowers. Oil premiums are offered at the crush plants on oil content above 40% at a rate of 2% price premium for each 1% of oil above 40%. For example, 45% oil content results in a 10% price premium, which pushes gross returns from oil sunflower even higher.
Find market news and prices at sunflowernsa.com, and follow on X @NatlSunflower.