More corn and soybeans Poor performance in hot summers has growers looking for other options despite strong prices
Flax is a tale of two provinces this spring.
In its June 25 estimates of principal field crops, Statistics Canada pegged Saskatchewan flax acres at 960,000, up from 775,000 acres in 2012 and 535,000 acres in 2011.
However, flax area is rapidly falling in Manitoba. Statistics Canada expected Manitoba growers to seed 85,000 acres of the crop, down from 155,000 acres in 2012.
“I’m surprised that the drop is that much,” said Ernie Wiens, a Manitoba Flax Growers Association director who farms near La Salle, Man.
“On the other hand, if we look at what’s happening in Manitoba, especially in our area, there are so many acres that have shifted to corn and soybeans…. There are only so many acres to go around … and something has to give. In Manitoba’s case, especially in the (Red River) Valley, it’s flax.”
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Alberta may grow more flax than Manitoba this year if the Statistics Canada estimates are correct. Alberta farmers are expected to seed 90,000 acres, up from 50,000 in 2012.
Statistics Canada estimated that the national flax crop will be 1.135 million acres, jumping from 980,000 acres in 2012 and 740,000 in 2011.
Flax Council of Canada president William Hill said the industry was expecting around 1.2 million acres.
Saskatchewan producers chose flax this spring mostly because prices are strong, said David Sefton, a grower from Broadview, Sask.
Flax is selling at $15 to $16 per bushel, which convinced farmers to expand acreage or give it a try.
“The seed people were telling us that they were selling out … so it (the acreage gain) is not a surprise,” said Sefton, a Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission director.
“I think there are people that have been out of flax for a number of years, for various reasons, that put some flax in (this year).”
Flax prices are robust because Chinese demand has offset a steep decline in sales to Europe, Sefton said.
The European market for prairie flax crashed in the winter of 2009-10, after trace quantities of a genetically modified variety, known as Triffid, were discovered in shipments from Canada.
As well, flax acres suffered in 2011 due to excess precipitation in southern and eastern Saskatchewan.
“We had some very wet conditions in the traditional flax growing areas,” said Sefton, who’s encouraged by the oilseed’s rebound in Saskatchewan.
It’s a different story in Manitoba, where Miens said the crop isn’t economically competitive.
“We sold our flax about a month and a half ago. We actually sold it for $17 (per bushel),” he said.
“The price is good but when you can only grow 15 or 20 bushel (per acre) flax, it’s just hard to pencil out against the other crops.”
Hot summers fried flax yields in Manitoba over the last couple of years. Yields averaged 15 bu. per acre last year in the Red River Valley, while soybean yields averaged 35 bu.
“Flax, with its limited root system, hasn’t coped well (with the heat),” Wiens said.
As a result, flax has virtually vanished from the valley.
“I have seen the odd, small field of flax, but it is few and far between.”
Wiens said the decline of Manitoba flax acres is distressing because the crop has a lot to offer, including agronomic advantages for growers and health benefits for consumers.
“It fits in well with rotations, it’s a good way to break the disease cycle,” he said.
“Farmers in this area often say we grow our best wheat after flax. It’s got a lot of pluses.”
Anastasia Kubinec, a Manitoba Agriculture oilseed specialist, questions Statistics Canada’s estimate.
Based on her conversations with seed dealers, “they have completely sold out of all of their flax seed this year.”
Kubinec reckons the Manitoba figure is closer to 150,000 acres, which is similar to last year.
