HARVEST MANAGEMENT

Most of our understanding on flax harvesting comes from research completed

in the early 1990s. However, harvest management is increasingly becoming an

issue as changing weather creates less than optimal harvest conditions. There

is need to investigate Best Management Practices for managing flax harvest.

Harvest TimingFlax requires 90 – 125 days to mature depending on location, climate, variety

and production practices. Anecdotal evidence shows that flax seeded in early

May reaches maturity sooner than flax seeded in late May (Fig. 4). While

research has shown that excess nitrogen can delay maturity in flax (Nuttall and

Malhi 1991). Higher seeding rates may also accelerate maturity (Lafond et al.

2002). How can we manage these factors and interactions to get flax in the bin

sooner?

Ease of HarvestStem wrapping on header reels is a major source of headaches for flax

growers. Desiccants and pre-harvest herbicides can sometimes facilitate stem

dry down. Swathing can do a good job of drying down stems, but it increases

the risk of harvest losses by high winds. Some headers may be better at

combining flax than others but no research of that kind has been conducted to

date.

Straw ManagementThe primary method of straw management by most flax growers is to burn.

With more of the populations becoming urban dwellers and a potential Carbon

Tax, burning is less than desirable. Certain varieties are shorter than others

(Fig. 5) which may lessen the amount of residue to manage, although taller

varieties may provide more vigorous weed control. However, the tough fibrous

straw is not conducive to chopping under typical management practices.

Future research should look at reducing stem fibre of flax cultivars.

LITERATURE CITEDFriesen, G.H. 1986. Effect of weed interference on yield and quality of flax seed oil. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 66(4):1037-1040.

Gubbels, G.H., Ewanek, J. and Kenaschuk, E.O. 1994. Flax chlorosis on calcareous soils in Manitoba. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Focus on Agronomy

(94-04).

Lafond, G., Shirtliffe, S., Irvine, B., McAndrew, D., Rashid, K., Johnston, A., Stevenson, C., German, R., Mollison, B., Johnson, B., Geremia, R., and May, W.

2002. Flax Agronomy Research Final Report. Flax Growth and Development: Understanding Yield Formation and the Effects of Critical Stress Periods on Final

Grain Yield. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Indian Head, Saskatchewan.

Lafond, G.P., Irvine, B., Johnston, A.M., May, W.E., McAndrew, D.W., Shirtliffe, S.J. and Stevenson, F.C. 2008. Impact of agronomic factors on seed yield

formation and quality of flax. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 88(3): 485-500.

Nuttall, W. F. and S. S. Malhi. 1991. The effect of time and rate of N-application on the yield and N-uptake of wheat, barley, flax and four cultivars of rapeseed.

Canadian Journal of Soil Science 71:227-238.

Wall, D.A. and Smith, M.A. 2000. Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) management in flax (linum usitassimum). Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 80(2):411-417

PEST MANAGEMENT

Weed ManagementPoor weed control can cause significant yield loss in flax (Fig.3). Research has

shown 30 – 63% yield reductions from competition with weeds (Friesen et al. 1986,

Wall and Smith 2000). To consistently increase flax yields, improvements in weed

management are needed.

i. Need to screen new herbicides options and various tank mixes on flax.

ii. Need a new herbicide group for flax to control Group 1 resistant wild oat and

other difficult to control weeds like cleavers.

iii. Need to determine effects of integrated weed management of flax.

iv. Need to determine the critical weed free period of flax.

Disease ManagementPasmo is the most widespread disease for flax on the Prairies. Year after year,

provincial disease surveys in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have found pasmo in

close to 100% of surveyed fields. Cultural management practices like crop rotation,

seeding early, good weed management and adequate seeding rates are important

for managing pasmo.

There are two fungicides registered for pasmo control: Headline EC and Priaxor.

Research has shown both products have a significant yield increase and lodging

resistance in the presence of the disease (Fig.4). Recently published research by

Grant et al. (2016) also demonstrated an interaction between nitrogen fertilizer

rates, sources, pasmo severity and yield that warrants further investigation.

Preliminary work is underway towards the ultimate objective of breeding pasmo

resistance into Canadian flax cultivars.

The Future of Flax: Priority Setting for the Next Agriculture Policy FrameworkRachel Evans - Flax Council of Canada, Winnipeg, MB

Anastasia Kubinec - Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB

INTRODUCTION

Flax is an important crop for improving or maintaining on-farm diversity and

sustainability in Manitoba. However, flax has not kept pace with yield

improvements of most major crops in western Canada (Table 1). Although

breeding has been an important means to develop various traits in flax, it has not

been highly effective in increasing commercial yield. Data obtained from the

Provincial Seed Guides indicate that over the last 30 years, breeding has added 1

extra bushel/acre every 10 years. The result is a decline of flax acres in Manitoba

over the last 30 years (Fig. 1).

It is critical to identify the factors that have caused Manitoba producers to

dramatically reduce their flax production, and ultimately identify the gaps that exist

in current agronomic research. This poster highlights potential issues that may be

contributing to low and unstable flax yields.

EARLY SEASON ESTABLISHMENT

Target Seeding Rates and Plant EstablishmentThere has been significant amount of research into seeding rates for flax, which

shows that a plant population of 30-40 plants/ ft2 should be targeted (Lafond et

al.2008). To achieve that, a 40-50 lb/ ac seeding rate which assumes 40 – 50%

emergence mortality. Seed is one of the highest costs in production, warranting

investigation into how to reduce seed mortality.

Ideally, flax should be seeded between the 1st week of May and the 3rd week of

May. Manitoba yield data indicates a 20% yield loss when flax is seeded in the first

week of June (Fig.2). However, flax is often seeded last on farms.

Iron/ Zinc Deficient ChlorosisA frequent occurrence in Manitoba flax and soybean fields is the appearance of

irregular patterns of chlorosis (yellowing of flax leaves) observed under wet soil

conditions. Under severe conditions, this can result in plant stunting, delayed

maturity and yield loss (Gubbels et al. 1994). Iron chlorosis may be contributed by;

1. Cool, wet growing conditions and saturated soils.

2. Calcareous (high levels of carbonates) soils common in Manitoba.

3. Compacted or saline soils.

Under these conditions, the iron ion is converted to a less plant available form and

other minerals are more plant available and compete for uptake. AC Emerson is a

flax variety that has excellent tolerance and recovery to iron chlorosis. However,

although this variety was registered in 1994, seed is not available.

Table 1. Yield of flax by province - 1983-2012

Average Yield

(bu/ac)

Total Yield

Increase

Average Annual

Yield Increase

Province 1983-1987 2008-

20121983-2012 1983-2012

Manitoba 21.1 23.5 11.40% 0.38%

Saskatchewan 20.1 23.3 15.90% 0.53%

Alberta 20.4 34.3 68.10% 2.27%

Western Canada 20.6

24 16.00% 0.50%

Dribnenki, JCP. 2014. Data sourced from Chris Beckman, Oilseeds

Analyst, Market Analysis Group, AAFC

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

1600000

1800000

Ac

res

Figure 1. Flax Acres in Canadian Prairie Provinces (1986- 2015)

Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta

2016 Manitoba

approx. 67,000 ac

1986

Manitoba

>1,000,000 ac

We want to hear from you! Tell us what you think are the important areas we should focus our research efforts to increase yields and

keep flax on farms. Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MAC2016FlaxSurvey or fill out the hard copy form below.

Figure 2. Seeding Date Effect on Crop Yields (1989-2008)

Figure 4. Flax with fungicide (left)

and without fungicide (Right).

Figure 3. Flax with IWM (left) and without IWM

(Right).

Figure 4. Flax seeded May 20th, 2016 (left) and

seeded May30th, 2016 (Right) showing maturity

difference.

Figure 5. Height difference of Prairie Grande

(left) and CDC Sorel (Right).