BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- The Agriculture Department says sunflower crops could set records in the top two producing states this year, helping to blunt a drop in nationwide production and ensure a healthy supply for processors in the United States and Canada.

The good year for growers in North Dakota and South Dakota in turn might help keep consumer prices down for foods that use sunflower oil although worries remain about the rain-delayed harvest.

Production nationwide is expected to be down 13 percent this year, because of a drop in planted acres due to competition from highly profitable crops such as soybeans and spring flooding in North Dakota that prevented some fields from being seeded.

But all indications are that the crops are still in good shape.

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