The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1920-05-14
Montana Farmers Urged to In
crease 1920 Production to
Help Meet Demand
PRICES ARE on THE ADVANCE
-Four Northwest States Produce
IS Per Cent of Our Annual
Crop. United States is Fore.
ed to Import About Two.
Thirds of Normal Supply
from Argentina.

Unprecedented demand in the Unit.
ed States for flaxSccd from which are
produced li1lseed oil, linsc'N cake and
meal. with resulting high prices and
the inability Of the nation TO produce
even fair part of it's annual consump-
ton, all are believed to be conditions
that will prompt Montana farmers to
increase largely their 1870 acreage of
flax. The total annual production in
the United States is only onc-third of
the amount used, the remaining two.
thirds being imported from Argentina
and Canada.
Four states. Montana. MinnesO-
Ia. North Dakota and South Da-
kota, produce 05 per cent of the
nations flaxseed. Flax growers
Of Montana are given assurance of
steady market by virtue of the
serious flaxseed situation. Al
though Argentina aud India have
large crops this year, the cOmpe-
tition of Great Britain and con-
tinental Europe for the Argentine
crop is continuing strong despite
q price of IS.
Demand 10 Growing.
Before the war the United States
used $4,000. 900 bushels Of flaxseed an
nuA1iy. The 1919 production in the
United States was below 100000
bushels. The rate Of consumption fell
of slightly during the war owing to
cessation In building operations, but
t1e mo2th OF Jaaudry. 1920. showed
building permits In 1893 cities issued
- a kAk>1 - $tvn tlu,nn tho n,lunhon II.
sued In the same month Of 1910, point.
inr to a strong resumption In building.
The April bulletin Of the United States
Department Of Agriculture stated that
ut cannot be denied that there Is IN
ell."
Increase Of acreage In the Unit
Cd States cannot affect market
prices. Il 10 known that the crop
Of the United States, even II in.
creased three times, would not
meet the home demand. Prices
will remain high ~ long ~ the
United States 10 forced to import
part Of her annual supply. Prices
have increased steadily since 1913.
Statements Issued recently in the
east show that the total world crop for
1920 will be short OF the world demand
for flaxseed by about 100000 bush.
els.
Seed Before June 10.
The best time for flax seeding In
Montana varies with crop conditions.
Early seeding gives best results in cool
seasons with early frosts, but late
s0wn flax is the heaviest yfe1der In
hot summers which are followed by
cool falls and late frosts. The Mon.
tana Experiment Station advises seed
Ing not later than June 10. It Is said
that there Is enough flax seed In Mon
tana to take care of the seeding of a
normally large acreage this year. The
Montana Experiment Station will be
glad to assist farmers who desire to
purchase flax seed for seed purposes.
The amount of seed to SOW seems
to vary with the season and rainfall.
In average years one peck or IA
pounds has given better results than
heavier seeding. As much as 10 or 20
pounds has been sOwn without over
crowding the plants. Shallow seeding
Is preferable to deep seeding.
Advantage In Tractor.
The best results in the past have
been obtained on medium deep break