With the latest official acreage estimates showing a jump in flax acres across much of Western Canada, the Flax Council of Canada is urging caution. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s latest Seeded Acreage Report is expecting 1.1 million acres to go into the ground this year, putting pressure on seed supplies, and putting the integrity of […] Read more
Flax Council cautions on seed integrity
Don’t go too far out on a limb when growing niche crops
Reading Time: < 1 minute Planning to plant some of the less common crops such as flax, camelina, or hemp? Then start small, says provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. “Use the first year as a chance to learn the agronomics and particulars of the new crop,” Brook said. Also, it’s “imperative to get a contract first before you grow it.” […] Read more
Higher prices could give flax acres a chance
CNS Canada — Strong demand for Canadian flax, combined with small production, has driven prices up, which could tempt producers making seeding choices this spring. Last year, the amount of flax seeded in Canada was down about a third from the previous growing season. As a result, stocks are short, despite large carryover. Demand, however, […] Read more
ONE FOR THE BOOKS: Lessons learned, and a look ahead
‘Don’t wait for the perfect day’ is one of the key lessons from 2016, and sticking to rotations may be one for this year
Reading Time: 6 minutes Allison Ammeter didn’t see the inside of a combine in October. As harvest carried on across the province, Ammeter was left waiting and wondering when the rains would stop and whether she and husband Mike would finish harvest before the snow started flying. They didn’t. “We got not quite two-thirds done, which is fairly average […] Read more
Prairies tell a tale of two flax crops
CNS Canada — A large portion of Canada’s flaxseed crop is still in the field, leaving questions over the size and quality of what will eventually be harvested. About a third of the flaxseed crop is still left in the field in Saskatchewan, by the estimate of Tom Leier, senior grain buyer with Scoular Special […] Read more
Flax growers scout soggy fields as prices edge upward
CNS Canada — Producers are assessing the effects of weekend rains that soaked flax crops in Western Canada, while prices have ticked up slightly as data reflects shrinking acres. Flax fields in western Manitoba saw thunderstorms and powerful winds, which knocked out power in some areas of the province during the weekend. Parts of southeastern […] Read more
Flax industry fighting to regain lost acres
CNS Canada — After losing ground to pulses this year, a flax industry group is working on ways to be competitive going forward. “It’s the year of the pulses, and certainly growers are taking advantage of good prices for pulses,” said Don Kerr, president at the Flax Council of Canada, referring to the United Nations […] Read more
Flax expected to lose a third of acres
CNS Canada — Canada’s flax acres are expected to fall about a third from last year’s levels, according to Statistics Canada data. One market participant says weaker prices have influenced farmers, while another says smaller crops are often overlooked during surveys. StatsCan estimates flax’s seeded area at about 1.1 million acres, compared with 1.6 million acres […] Read more
Eight tips for growing flax
Agronomy researcher Chris Holzapfel shares what he’s learned about growing flax
If you count each research plot as a crop, Chris Holzapfel – a research manager for the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation – has grown more crops in a few years than most farmers have a chance to grow in a lifetime. Holzapfel’s research includes several different crops, but at a recent Saskatchewan Oilseed Producer[...]
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Potential for fewer flax acres seen this year
CNS Canada — While area seeded to flax in Canada has been increasing over the past four years, that upward momentum may halt in 2016-17. Flax’s cost of production is higher than many of its rivals and the growing lustre of pulse crops could cut into some acres, according to one industry watcher. “It’s too[...]
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