Sunflowers, wheat potential stars for ’05 growing season

Word has it that farmers are the most optimistic people you will ever meet.

Some would say this optimism also tends to make them the most foolish people.

Optimism about the 2005 growing season is high, although growers are still feeling the sting of continued drought conditions. Subsoil moisture is lower than normal and moisture is going to be needed at critical growing points to compensate.

Increased input prices for oil and fertilizer along with lower-than-average crop prices are forcing some farmers to re-evaluate what crops they grow.

“We are estimating a 40 percent increase in acres grown (of sunflowers)…