Russia. Sunseed crop exceeding the most optimistic forecasts

In the 2019/20 season, Russia expanded its oilseeds acreage to 14.5 Ml ha (+4% from MY 2018/19).Sunflower planted area reached a record 8.5 Ml ha (+5% from MY 2018/19). The plantings increased in all the federal districts (+ a combined 400 Th ha), reports UkrAgroConsult.

Dry weather conditions in the first half of the summer suggested no high sunflower yield. The latter half of the summer witnessed effective precipitation all over major growing regions. Higher forecasts became more trustworthy.

Real-time data on sunflower harvest as of September 26, 2019:

- 2.5 Ml ha was harvested (+ 25% year-on-year), or harvest was some 30% complete;

- the crop amounted to 5.6 MMT (- 60% from the same date last year);

- yield equals 2.23 MT/ha (+ 25.3% from the same date last year).