U.S. Flax Harvest Tanks

WASHINGTON - Jan 11/08 - SNS -- Flaxseed production in 2007 totaled 5.90 million bushels, down 46% from last year and 70% below 2005, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) final crop report for 2007.

The average yield is estimated at 16.9 bushels per acre, up 2.5 bushels from 2006. Planted area for the 2007 crop is estimated at 354,000 acres, down 56% from last year. Planted acreage is down significantly in all four States in the estimating program (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota) as favorable prices for other crops discouraged some producers from planting flaxseed. Harvested area, at 349,000 acres, is down 54% from 2006.

In North Dakota, the leading flaxseed State, production totaled 5.55 million bushels, down 46% from 2006. Growers harvested 317,000 acres of flaxseed in 2007, down 56% from last year to the lowest level since 1998. The average yield in North Dakota is estimated at 17.5 bushels per acre, up 3.0 bushels from last year.

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