The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-04-17
LARGEACREAGEI
OF FLAX MAY
CUT THE PRICE.
Agricultural College Expert
Urges Farmers to Exercise
Care in Planting
TO SEEK A HIGH YIELD

Fargo, N. d., April 17.-North Da-
kOta farmers should exercise extra
care to produce high yields of flax
per acre and thus reduce the cost of
production per bushel due to the fact
that the greatly increased acreage
Indicated for 1924 may affect the
market price unfavorably. This is
the warning issued by Rex F.. Will
lard, farm economist, and r. +. Stoa,
assistant agronomist, of the Expert
ment station at the North Dakota
Agricultural college. They have is
sued the following statement:
An increase of sd percent in the
acreage of flax for 1924 over the
acreage Of 1923 is indicated by re-
ports of the division of crop and
livestock estimates of the United
States department of agriculture.
This means an addition of approx
matcly l,09S,0 acres over 1923, with
an average yield of 7.G bushels Of
flax per acre. The probable produc-
ton on this basis will amount to
23,G59,000 bushels.
The average acreage cropped to
flax in the United States in 1918 to
1922 inclusive was l,47S,00O acres.
The average annual production for
| this period was about 100000 bu-
shells and the average annual con-
! sumption about 3O,000,000 bushels. In
| 1923 the acreage was increased APP
proXimately 80 percent over the 1922
acreage or about 36 percent over the
Sy,
crease over 1923 in the four leading
flax states according to March /
plans is as follows: North Dakota, 60
percent; Minnesota, 33 percent;
South Dakota, 40 percent, and Mon
tana, 140 percent.
The annual yield of flax per acre
is variable, ranging from approx
mately Az bushels in 1917 to more
than 10 bushels per acre in 1915. No
one can foretell the production fol
1924, but using the average yield as
the base, some indication may be
shown as to the probable situation.
The average annual consumption
of. flaXseed in the United States
since 1918 is approximately 100000
bushels, ranging from 100000 600 il
1918 to 100000 in 1922 and slight
ly over 35,000,O0O in 1928. The de
mand for linseed oil is affected b.
the conditions of the building trade
as related to paint and varnish con
sumption, and also, to some extern
by the consumption of linoleum
printers ink, patent leather an,
water proofing materials. Likewise
European conditions materially If
feet linseed consumption.
Argentina supplies from G5 to 3
percent Of the flax seed that enter
t into world trade. tn 1923 worl
crop, including the large crop q
Argentina harvested u few month
ago, was approximately 100000
: bushels in excess of the prev
+, average.
2 Fortunately, the United States
), an importing country and has tn
protection of 40 cents a bushel q
o flax seed and 3.3 cents per poun
n on linseed oil as long as we continu
on an import basis. The price
5 the United States should be approx
o mately above the world price by II
y amount Of the tariff,
Should our annual consumption
IS 1924-25 be approximately the fiv
n year average of 30,O00,00O bushels
is possible that the $4,000, 900 bushe
u above indicated may appreciably a
I" feet the price this fall. 1t has fir
' quently happened that a large crop
certain commodities has broug
=" gross income much less than sma
er crop has brought and it is co
ceivable that this might be the !
suit if too large an increase is ma
" in the production of this years fl
~ crop. Some increase over 1923 a
t. pears to be justified"