Flax in crop rotations

[Jagfarms]

I heard from some people that flax can be hard
on the land. We had flax seeded in 2011 on
summer follow right beside Durum seeded on
summerfollow. This year we seeded large green
lentils on the durum and flax stubble and the
lentils yielded the same on both the flax and
durum stubble.

We did not have any flax seeded this year but
wish we would have as i sold some flax seed to
some local farmers and it is yielding around 30
bu acre. As good as any Canola did around
here this year.

With the canola you can get a 50 plus canola
crop as with flax you would be lucky to get 40
bu acre. But there is lot less imput costs with
flax vs canola.

I think next year i may seed canola stubble to
flax if there is any moisture.

I do not think i would want to take a chance
growing flax on lentil stubble where pursuit was
used.
We had some canola seeded on lentil stubble
where pursuit was used the year before and it
did better than the Canola on Durum stubble.

Any thoughts on crop rotations???

What have you have luck with?
What would you not do again?

[Hopperbin]

Have grown it a bit in the past and some neighbours are growing it, myself have not for cleaver pressure but hear there is a better chemical to use now. Myself I liked to grow canola after the flax so as to kill the flax volunteers and canola is good after flax. The harrowing and burning may be hard on the land if anything but cannot immagine otherwise why it would be hard on the land. It takes less nutrients out of the soil than any other crop I know and is cheaper to grow. Poundmaker bailed the nieghbours flax this year so that looks very good. No harrowing and burning, some stubble left to catch snow and conserve moisture. Flax seems to take a lot of moisture out of the upper soil layer than most crops so if someone says that the next crop was poorer after flax it may because of that reduced moisture in the upper layer. Remember every year is different I have seen many crops do better after a flax crop good to have rotation. Is possible to straight cut and chop with a well maintained chopper. I hate burning and will do anything in my power to not do that.

[bucket]

I read somewhere canola on flax is ok but flax on canola not so good.

For a seed grower you sure ask alot of questions about stuff you should probably already know.

[wd9]

Mycorrhizae fungi is flax's best friend
and is reduced in canola stubble. There is
also some toxicity in canola stubble for
flax. After cereals and peas its ok, but
after canola, not a good idea.

[Jagfarms]

I know that flax can be grown on Canola
stubble. I know of a seed grower who has done
so for seed production.

If i grow flax on Canola stubble it wont be for
seed production.

I am just wondering more about yield results
from different crop rotations.

I an sharing what i learned from what i did on
our farm and would like to hear what works for
others.

Our durum on our Canola stubble was our best
durum we had this year on stubble. It was at
another farm that had 2 inches more rain than
the rest of our land but it went 47 bu acre on
canola stubble which really suprised us.

[Jagfarms]

I am not saying that seeding flax on Canola
stubble is the recomended but i might take a
chance on it.

[wd9]

Then why even bother asking?

[Jagfarms]

Thank WD9 for the info. It might be better to
put something else after the canola instead of
flax.

I have all winter to think about it. Like I said i
know of farmers who have seeded flax after
canola. Not saying it is the right thing to do.

It will depend on the prices in the spring but
looking at some different options.

[Hopperbin]

Your going to have a very high probability of a yield reduction along with excesive weed pressure. Why did the seed grower do it? Cannot you pick a different field? Are you short cereal stubble?

[JDGreen]

I would rather sedd it into lentil/pea stubble. The pursuit carryover is not near the issue they say it is. Flax on Canola not a good idea. Moisture, MRfungi, fertility and weed control will all be issues.

[bucket]

And then people wonder why they end up with contaminated seed or you hear of stories like thecanola L150.

Seed growers that can find recommended farming practices on the internet and still want to farm with not recommended practices.

Jag - you must be one of those that throw in a little dockage because you are allowed to.

They best cleaner you have on a farm is a sprayer. If you can't clean the field with the sprayer you have increased your costs.

[Jagfarms]

We are short on Cereal stubble this year. We
had mostlty lentils seeded.

I am not sure why the seed grower grew flax on
Canola stubble.

Last year we had some RR Canola seeded on a
half section that rent and it is full of wild oats.
That is the reason we seeded it there to try to
clean up the wild oats.
I have had canary seed on this half before and it
can not compete against the wild oats as there
are not many options for wild oats in Canary.
we have been going with buctral m and 1/2 rate
pursuit but would not want to do that 2 or 3
times.

what ever i seed on this half section i have to be
able to go in and spray in crop 2 to 3 times for
wild oats. I thought it may be easier to control
wild oats in flax.

I have had good luck with Lentils and Canola on
this 1/2 as it is easy to see and control the
second and 3rd flushes of wild oats.


Has any one had any luck seeding flax on lentil
or pea stubble where pursuit was used?

We have been following our lentils with Canary
seed, Durum and Canola and been having good
luck with all 3.