In Saskatchewan, producers plant 1.4 million acres to flax each year, about 70 % of Canada’s total production. Flax is considered a favourable addition to many farmers’ crop rotations—more than one in four Saskatchewan producers plant flax each year. However, an overwhelming constraint to flax production is dealing with flax straw residue.

Oilseed flax has a significant percentage of long tough stem fibers that decay slowly over time. This makes it difficult to incorporate flax straw into the soil after harvest since the fibers wrap themselves around and/or plug disks, wheels and shovels. In the past, one way to cope with flax straw was to drop it in windrows after the combine and then burn it directly or harrow or rake it into piles and then burn it. Today, this practise is discouraged for a number of reasons: because it is unsafe and can harm the soil; because the straw has economic value; and because of the damaging effect on air quality and human health.

To help raise awareness of alternatives to burning flax straw, the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SFDC) is working with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada on an Agri-Environmental Group Plan (AEGP) for straw management. Through this program, Saskatchewan flax producers, represented by SFDC, can work together on developing Beneficial Management Practises (BMPs) that will:

1. Improve air quality
2. Enhance economic opportunities available to farmers

or browse the presentations from
the Effective Straw Management Workshop held February 2008.

Effect of Open Burning on Human Health
(Canadian Lung Association)

Agricultural Burning: FAQs
(Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture)

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Article Library

Seeding Considerations for Flax Producers

Successful Fiber Demonstrations

Proximity to Straw Processors

What do I do after my straw has retted?

When is my straw fully retted?

What is Field Retting?

How can I market my flax straw?

Are there local markets for flax straw?

Flax Straw and Carbon Sequestration

Soil Moisture, Weather, Soil Zone & your Flax Crop

Beneficial Management Practices for Managing Flax Straw

Crop Cleanliness in Flax

Deciding Which Variety To Seed

Capturing Value From Flax Straw

Burning Flax Straw:
It Doesn't Just Disappear

Raking Flax Straw
(with video)

Testing When Flax Is Ready To Bale
(with video)

What is a BMP?

Flax Straw Management: Chopping

Flax Straw Management: Stripper Header Technology

Flax Straw Management: Program Review & Update

"We are generally the better persuaded by the reasons we discover ourselves than by those given to us by others."
- Blaise Pascal
(1623-1662)