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| Large numbers of North Dakota farmers grow sunflowers every year (ND is ranked #1 in SF production). Government payments are decoupled from the crops a farmer chooses to grow and have nothing to do with a farmers decision on what to plant in the States, with the exception of what USDA considers to be a fruit or vegetable. Sweet corn, not field corn, fresh peas, not dry peas, also dry beans are also considered a vegetable, including chickpeas. In the States a farmer can only plant a fruit/vegetable on non-farm program acres or on acres on farms with a fruit/vegetable acreage history (1998-2002). As Jon Hagen states, LDP's are only paid during times of low prices, so they are not a factor now. SF prices are very good, and they require less fertilizer, but I think the high wheat prices will keep a lid on SF acres. | |
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Sunflower in North Dakota
