LUTHER BERNISON, Farmer

Adams, North Dakota

AsI was growing up, flax was always considered a weak sister to the cereal grains. One of the reasons for this was the low or erratic yields associated with flax production. Conditions had to be just right and a lot of luck required to get a respectable yield. All the components needed for a profitable yield, under a conventional tillage system, diminished the enthusiasm for producing flax.

One of the few times I actually drove horses in the field was one spring my father sent me out with a team of three mis-matched horses and a roller packer to break up the lumps caused by mold-board plow. Needless to say we didn't have a firm seed bed with moisture. Often times you would have to wait for a rain which resulted in late seeding, late harvest and low yields. You had to also try to out guess mother nature as to when the weeds would or wouldn't germinate. Many times it was seeded as an after thought and of no great economic importance. It is perhaps for these reasons that flax was often the most cursed crop on the prairie.

I do feel however that with the advent of modern technology, improved varieties, and cultured practices, it is possible to raise flax profitably, given a half way decent price structure.

For the past few years flax has been included in our crop rotation. WE grow all our flax zero-till and it seems to be a system that is quite well adapted to this plant. No-till meets some of the most important criteria as set forth in the production guide lines by the Extension Service.

They are as follows:

1. Firm seed bed. Untilled soil is firm, but not hard.

2. Moist seed bed. The retention of moisture and moisture closed to the surface under a zero-till system allows one to seed at the optimum depth of 1 to 2 inches.

3. Avoid soil crusting. With residue on the surface and increased organic matter, zero-till fields will seldom crust.

As with any crop, regardless of the system, flax will respond to good management. As I stated, we grow all our flax no-till. Our seed bed preparation starts the preceding fall at harvest with even distribution of the crop residue. We also include a fall application of some chemical to control the winter annuals and any perennial weeds that might be present. The weed species and stage growth will dictate which chemical to use and also the rate. More often than not it will be a phenoxy compound to control the winter annuals and spot spray with Roundup for the grasses and thistles. Our last bit of fall work will be soil test. We generally will try to seed as early as practical, with May 10th being the magical date. Early seeding is beneficial to higher yields. Data from both Manitoba and North Dakota show about a two bushel decrease for each week delay in seeding. Climatic conditions will often dictate if we need spring burn down weed control program. If necessary, this most likely will be a low rate of Roundup plus one quart Ammonium Sulfate per acre. We are presently using a 2408 Haybuster drill for seeding. Our seeding rate is on the high side of the recommended rate of fifty pounds per acre. We do not use a seed treatment. We plant only certified or registered seed. All our fertilizer is applied at seeding time in a side band.

The rate is based on the soil test results for a 30 bushel yield goal. The nitrogen source is aqua-ammonia and the dry form of phosphorus. The soil test indicate that we are not deficient in potassium, sulfur, or zinc. Our post weed control program again will vary, depending the weed species. It is almost certain that there will be grassy weeds including volunteer cereal grains. For this, we use Poast at the 3/4 pt rate plus 1 quart Dash (crop Oil) plus 1 quart Ammonium sulfate per acre. For the broad leaf weed control this past year we used 2/3 pint Buitril plus 1/3 pint M.C.P.A. for part of the acreage and on the remainder we applied 1/8 OZ Glean plus 1/2 pint M.C.P.A. We feel we have never reached an economic threshold that would warrant control measures for either insects or diseases. We prefer to straight combine flax whenever possible. This past year the flax was extremely short because of the drought. We used an air reel on our combine which worked very well in short straw conditions. We sell out flax straw to a fiber flax processing company. They do all the raking, baling, and hauling.

This is our basic system for flax production. There are forces outside of our control that affect yield. In two out of the past six years, we have experienced wide swings in precipitation, with a record high of 32 inches to a record low of 112 inch this past year. Flax doesn't like wet feet, nor does it like dry feet.

Flax like any other cultivar responds to good soil. It has a limited root system so perhaps it should not be seeded on sandy soil unless you have an irritation system or special status with the rain maker. It does have some salt tolerance resistance, and if fertility levels are adequate, it will do reasonably well on saline soil.

I like flax in our rotation as it gives a break in the pest cycle. We follow a four year rotation.

As a light side to flax production I would like to comment on its usage. Although flax is associated with the earliest recorded civilization, it appears that it may be a late bloomer--(no pun intended). In addition to its oil, meal, and fiber, there is some promising research that gives evidence of flax being a very healthy dietary food. The indications are that flax in the human diet will help reduce the level of cholesterol. There is also indication that when fed to dairy animals, it reduces the level of cholesterol in the dairy products and when fed to chickens, it reduces the cholesterol in the egg.