North Dakota Expects Strong Flax Interest
FARGO - May 9/.02 - SNS -- Oilseed producers in North Dakota are expected to show more interest in growing flaxseed this year than was the case last year, when they boosted plating 11% to 550,000 acres, believes North Dakota State University extension agronomist Duane R. Berglund.
The extent of the change from last year will not be known until this year's seeded area estimates are released by the USDA on June 28 at the same time as the Canadian numbers become available.
This combination of reports will provide a solid view of the actual fundamentals facing markets for the 2002-03 marketing campaign. (Details of the reports will be available in the subscriber supported portions of this website shortly after they are released.)
Looking at flax production in North Dakota, Berglund says flax should have already been planted to maximize yield potential and maintain good quality. In research studies conducted over nine years at the NDSU North Central Research Extension Center at Minot, flax planted in early June yielded 8 bushels an acre less than flax planted in early May. These data suggest that all flax should be planted between late April to May 15 to ensure maximum yield potential.
Firm seedbed preparation, adequate shallow seed placement to moisture, weed control and fertility management will contribute to high flax yields. Yield goals of 30 plus bushels an acre are not unrealistic for well-managed flax production. "Both brown seeded and yellow-seeded Omega flax will be planted in North Dakota this year. Omega is more popular for the food trade and the brown seeded varieties are most popular for the linseed oil extraction process and used for industrial purposes," Berglund says .
Weeds could cause serious problems this year. Flax does not shade the ground as much as cereal grains, so weeds have an excellent chance to develop. Some weeds, like wild buckwheat and red root pigweed use nitrogen and will rob flax of needed soil nutrients.
"Delayed seeding of flax, with tillage prior to seeding, will control wild oat and reduce infestations of other early germinating weeds," according to Berglund. "But delayed seeding generally reduces flax yields."
"A preemergence herbicide will control weeds before emergence, minimize early weed competition and maximize flax yields. Post-emergence herbicides, applied to small weeds and flax soon after weed emergence, will usually give better control and allow more time for flax recovery from possible herbicide injury than applications to larger weeds and flax."
Cathay and Pembina are two new brown seeded flax varieties that were released in 1998 according to Berglund. "A fairly large number of seed producers have increased these two varieties in the past several years. Both varieties have performed well in trials and in commercial fields."
For flax variety information refer to NDSU Extension Cir. A-1049. It lists 22 flax varieties, agronomic descriptions and yield performances in regions of North Dakota. York, a 2002 flax variety release from NDSU, is being increased this year and seed for production planting should be available in 2003. It is a high yielding, late maturity brown flax variety.
Flax should be planted at a soil depth of 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches in a firm seedbed. Good drill wheel packing of planted seed is recommended. Seeding rates will vary depending on regions of the state. Suggested seeding rates are 25-35 pounds per acre in the western drier regions and 40-45 pounds per acre in eastern and northern areas of the state. Many producers seed 38-42 pounds per acre. Excessively high seeding rates can result in lodging and greater incidence of pasmo (disease of flax) Berglund says. Flax weighs 56 pounds per bushel.
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