Sunflower area in Germany has shrunk

According to preliminary information from the Federal Statistical Office, around 134,200 tonnes of sunflower seeds were threshed in Germany in 2024, a good 21% less than in the previous year. The decrease is based in particular on the significantly smaller area under cultivation compared to the previous year, which fell by 25% to 51,400. According to research by Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (mbH), all federal states recorded a decline. The most significant declines were in Hesse and Lower Saxony. The largest production region in Germany remains the federal state of Brandenburg with a cultivation area of 16,500 ha and a decrease of 23% compared to last year. The expected higher yields cannot compensate for the significant decline in area. On average, 26.1 dt/ha are likely to have been harvested, almost 6% more than in the previous year. The decisive factors were sufficient rainfall and mild temperatures in summer as well as a relatively dry harvest. After sunflower ...