Capturing Value from Flax Straw

Glenn Payne, Saskatchewan Agriculture

This article is one of a series developed by the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SFDC) to raise awareness of the alternatives to burning flax straw. Working with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan on an Agri-Environmental Group Plan (AEGP) for straw management, the AEGP initiative enables producers to work together to strategically address a specific agri-environmental priority. For flax producers in Saskatchewan, this means working through SFDC to develop a suite of Beneficial Management Practices (BMPS) that will (a) improve air quality and (b) enhance the economic opportunities for flax straw available to producers.

For some producers, flax straw presents an opportunity to change something formerly considered a waste product into a value-added commodity. The strong, durable characteristics of flax fiber and the increasing demand for natural products are creating new possibilities for producers who can produce a product that meets the demands of these markets.

There are a number of reasons why processors and manufacturers are looking to increase their utilization of natural fibres:

• The trend among consumers to purchase more natural products, for real or perceived health and environmental benefits
• Growing demand for renewable content in manufactured goods, for environmental reasons
• Increasing demand for recyclable content, as the issue of waste disposal becomes increasingly expensive and environmental responsibility becomes more onerous
• Natural fibres are becoming increasingly more competitive from a cost perspective, because: (a) Petrochemically-based synthetic fibres are facing an environment of rising costs as global petroleum values rise; (b) Transportation costs are steadily increasing, so accessing local supplies of fibre can be advantageous versus imports from far-away, or overseas markets; and (c) Natural fibres can also have unique properties (like water absorption/retention or better strength to weight ratios) that enhance their functionality over traditional fibres.

As such, the number of re-emerging and new uses for natural fibres, especially flax is increasing all the time. While work is ongoing to increase the functionality of flax fibre as a substitute or complimentary fibre to things like fibre-glass, or even as a high-quality fibre for linen production, numerous uses are currently being made of flax.

The Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SaskFlax) has funded considerable research into building a fiber industry that would allow producers to capture significant value from flax straw that is currently uncollected. As with most industry development, it can take many years of investigation, trial and promotion before investments into full-scale commercial production will follow. To date, SaskFlax has completed a body of research that supports the potential of a successful fiber industry in Western Canada.

USES AND TYPES OF FLAX STRAW

• Totally unprocessed flax straw
• In square bales, large or small, used as a simple building/insulation material for:
1. Livestock wind-break structures
2. Feeder-pig barn wall insulation
3. Containment for feed bunks/grain pile storage
• In bales, or as loose straw, as a geotextile for:
  1. Erosion control on slopes and in water courses
  2. Emergency erosion control on wind-swept, barren ground
  3. Soil stabilization around livestock waters/feedbunks in feedlots
  4. Soil stabilization in oil-patch road and drilling site preparation, especially in Northern regions
  5. Soil remediation/enhancement during road construction
• In bales as heating/fuel source for:
  1. Yard sites
  2. Greenhouses
  3. Hog barns
  4. Grain drying/wood drying
• Pelletize the straw for use in:
1. Grain/Wood/Pellet Burning stoves
2. Coal Burners
• Partially processed flax straw (chopped/milled)
• As a fibre/filler source in non-structural building materials like deck boards, or paving stones, or roofing shingles
• Extracting the fibre for use in specialty papers (for cigarettes, currency, etc)
• As an additive to enhance the strength of recycled-paper pulp.
• Highly processed flax straw
• As insulation, as a longer lasting, more durable and more recyclable alternative to ‘pink’ glass-fibre insulation
• In composite materials (like tractor fenders to car dash boards to molded door panels, etc.) as a replacement to fibre-glass or other fibres
• As cottonized flax, to replace/enhance the functionality of plain cotton fabrics, as flax fibre has about 50 per cent more water retention capacity than cotton, feeling cooler to wear in hot environments
• If long enough and adequately retted, long fibre flax may be woven to make yarn for linen.

It should be noted that while there are a number of uses for unprocessed flax, many potential users of flax straw may be unaware that flax straw could be available to them. The onus is likely on producers to market their straw, to inform potential clients of what they have available—in what form (from standing flax stubble harvested with a stripper header, to combined windrows ready to bale, to baled small squares, to baled large round or square bales stacked and ready to move)—and in what location, and for what asking price. Some producers have even suggested some of the uses outlined above when advertising their flax for sale.

One tool that producers may consider using to help get the word out that they have flax straw for sale is Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Feed Grain and Forage Listing Service. This is a free service that producers can use to list their flax straw for sale online, on the Saskatchewan Agriculture website.

Producers can also get their product listed by calling the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, toll-free at 1-866-457-2377, and they will post the information posted on producers’ behalf.

Glenn Payne is the Provincial Specialist, Bioproducts with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. Tel. (306) 798-0944 in Regina.