Production Resources

Desiccation and Swathing

Flax can be chemically desiccated or swathed to dry down stalk tissue and green weeds after the crop has reached physiological maturity (75% of bolls are brown). Desiccated crops can then be straight combined, but swathing may be preferred with the crop is not uniform in maturity; in a swath, seeds are a lot less susceptible to frost damage. Timing is important for swathing and/or desiccation operations, as performing either task prematurely will reduce yield.

Flax can withstand weathering conditions better than canola, as the flax bolls are less susceptible to shelling out than canola pods. If in a late fall situation where standing flax still remains, swathed flax may be easier to pick up later this fall or next spring if the need arises. If left unswathed, the weight of snow on the crop may result in significant stalk breakage and/or lodging. The longer the crop is exposed to freeze-thaw conditions, the more the seed quality and appearance will be degraded. Also, flaxseed overwintered in the field is less suitable for the human consumption market.

Combining

Flax seed with a moisture content of 10% can be safely combined without the need for drying. The combine must be adjusted correctly to minimize seed coat damage to flax. If seed is very dry and the cylinder speed is too high, significant seed damage can occur.

Straw Management

Flax straw can cause problems in seeding subsequent crops if it is chopped and spread, since the straw decomposes very slowly. The straw can be baled and sold to several industries that process the straw. To be sold, straw must be free of weeds and garbage.

Storage

The moisture content in flax can be reduced with aeration under the right conditions, as with canola, but in late fall, a grain dryer may be more effective in bringing moisture down to a storable level. Flax is considered tough from 10.1 to 13.5% moisture and damp if over 13.5% moisture.

If using aeration and natural air to condition flax, sampling of resulting product is critical. Monitor the changes in moisture and temperature in the bin by sampling the bottom, middle and top of bin separately. Grain at the bin bottom close to the aeration will probably be dryer than the grain at the top of the bin. Move grain from the bin bottom to the top to provide mixing and evenly reduce moisture throughout the entire bin.

The sellable product is 10% moisture, but for successful long-term storage, targeting 8-9% moisture will reduce chances of heating and spoilage. Even dry, flax is prone to heating because of its high oil content. Stored flax should be routinely monitored to ensure there are no hot spots developing. A hot spot in stored flax can spread quickly - possibly throughout the entire bin.