Flax Production

Producers looking to grow flax as part of the 2020 crop year may be lured by the price per bushel, $8.25 per BU, 2020 crop brown type Harlem. However, producers should assure seed availability and a contract preferably before growing it or other arrangements for market delivery. Here are some other agronomic considerations producers should be aware of.

Flax is an annual plant that is self-pollinating. The seed is produced in a boll or capsule. A complete boll can have 10 seeds, but most bolls will have fewer, averaging around six seeds. Seeds can be brown, golden or yellow.

Flax should be sown into firm, moist soil. A well-prepared, firm seedbed will ensure sowing at the proper depth. This, in turn, will result in uniform germination and rapid, even emergence. We recommend a planting depth of 0.75 to 1.5 inches.

Press drill packer wheels do a satisfactory job of firming the soil after planting. If other types of planters are used, producers need to use special efforts, such as a soil packer behind the drill or harrowing, before planting to firm the seedbed. Avoid deep seeding because delayed emergence weakens seedlings, and weak seedlings are more likely to die.

When using pre-plant-incorporated herbicides, shallow planting is a must to reduce stress on emerging flax seedlings. Flax seedlings are less able to force their way through a soil crust than wheat seedlings.

A stand of 70 plants per square foot is desired. However, if uniform, stands of 30 to 40 plants per square foot may provide a satisfactory yield. As stands drop below 30 plants per square foot, weed infestation and delayed maturity are added problems.

Seeding rates of 25 to 45 pounds per acre are common. In general, use lower rates (25 to 35 pounds) in western North Dakota and higher rates (35 to 45 pounds) in the east. Seed size varies among varieties, which also should be considered. Yellow-seeded varieties may require higher seeding rates because of lower seedling vigor. If the untreated seed is used, then higher seeding rates are necessary.

Nitrogen requirement for flax is similar for 30 to 40 bu yield goal at 80 lbs soil N plus fertilizer. Test for N to the 2 ft depth. Flax also uses potassium (K).

Early seeded flax generally produces the highest yields. Early seeding normally occurs in late April for all of the state except the northeast, where early May seeding is possible. Frost seldom kills flax seedlings. Seedling plants just emerging (breaking ground) are the most susceptible to injury but can withstand temperatures down to 28 F for a few hours. After the seedlings have a second leaf, they can withstand temperatures into the low 20 F range.

Flax is less competitive with weeds than small grains and should be grown on relatively weed-free fields. Control weeds following the harvest of the preceding crop. Assure II, Targa, Poast, Clethodim and Select Max or 2EC are all grass-controlling herbicides that are labeled for controlling grasses in flax. See individual labels for mixing guidelines when using broadleaf herbicides, such as bromoxynil and MCPA ester formulations. For more information on all herbi-cides labeled for weed control use in flax, refer to the “North Dakota Weed Control Guide,” NDSU publication W253 (current year). Always read and follow the label in the use of all pesticides.

Insects, including grasshoppers, cutworms and army cutworms, aster leafhopper, aphids and wireworms can all dam-age flax. Planting resistant varieties and into clean fields will reduce injury from Flax wilt, rust, damping off, and root rot.

There is information on the North Dakota Flax website at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/flax-production-in-north-dakota

And crop yields is located at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/varietytrials/dickinson-rec/2019-trial-results/2019-trial-results-flax-dickinson/view. Dickenson, North Dakota is probably the closes research trial but remember Dickenson also get 15.77 inches annual precipitation. The Mean yield on recrop at the Dickenson trial was 14.6 bu in 2019 for 14 varieties. Varieties were planted May 6 and harvested September 19, 2019 and had average oil content of 43.9% in Dickenson.