The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-17
WOULD BOOST
FLAX ACREAGE
IN NO. DAKOTA
United States Department of
Agriculture Expert Draws
Conclusions


Devils Lake. N. d., Feb. l7.--Farm-
ers Of the northwest can safely in
crease the flax acreage only slight
ly over the 1924 figures. is the opin-
ion of DR.. W. j. Spillman, consult
ing specialist of the bureau OF eco
romics, Y. S. department OF agri-
culture, who spoke at Devils Lake
yesterday afternoon.
During the war there was very
little building construction in this
country and old structures received
very little repairs" Mr.. Spillman de-
clared. "This situation continued
during the era of depressed prices
in 1921 and to some extent in 1922.
But, beginning with 1929, when bust
ness began to revive after the de-
preston, there was IA remarkable
revival in all the industries connect
ed with the building trade.
"This made very unusual demand
for paint, of which linseed oil is the
basis. At the close Of the war we
were producing only about one-third
OF the flaxseed required to supply
II, needs for linseed oil, and were
importing the balance from Argen-
tina and Canada.
This fact, together with the fact
that we have tariff on flaxseed OF
40 cents a bushel. made the price
very satisfactory to growers. Wheat
being low priced at the time, we
made very marked increase in the
production of flaxseed. Our prOduc-
ton for the past four years in mil
lions of bushels has been 8. 10, II.
and 80.
"The amount of flaxseed ground
by the mills in this country in 1924
was 37,7OO,O0O bushels. This was
for the year ending Sept. 30, 1924,
and the seed was from the crop of
1923 mainly. Since we produced
only 100000 bushels that year, it
was necessary to import some
2O,0OO,OOO bushels.
1.-The estimated need for flaxseed
for the year 1925 is about 100000
bushels, and we have crop from
last year of 3O.0O0,OOO, so that there
will be presumably an import Of
about 100000 bushels. Under
these conditions the price of flaxseed
should remain at high level until
a new harvest comes in. The Ar
gentine flax crop is little short
this year, fact which was ascer-
tanned only recently. This is the
cause Of the recent marked rise in
the price of flax.
"The price of this years crop Of
flaxseed will depend mainly upon
the magnitude Of the crop and on
the continuation of building con-
struction and repair at approximate
ly the present rate. Those engaged
in the paint trade are Of opinion
that the demand for paint this veal
will be somewhat larger than it was
last year. They base this estimate
mainly on the fact that in the wheat
territory farmers will have some what
more money to spend this year thar
they had last. These farmers are
large users of paint. About IS pei
cent of the paint used in this coun'
try is applied to old structures, the
other Is per cent to new structures
The demand for paint, therefore, de-
Ponds more upon the general bust
ness situation and the amount o.
money farmers and others have tt
spend, than it does upon new con
struction.
Assuming that we shall need 49,,
100000 bushels of flaxseed this yea1
and about the same amount mex
year, it will be safe for American
growers to sow a crop that, with (
normal yield, would produce abou
$4,000 200 bushels for crushing, will
an added 100000 bushels for seed
nc assumes an importation Of
100000 bushels, which should keel
the price of flaxseed at a fairly higi
level. Last year we had 3,289, 00'
acres of flax. The average yield fo
flax for three years past has beer
just nine bushels to the acre.
we count on this yield this year
there is then with safety. room 70
increasing our flax acreage about i
per cent If we make that increas
. and get yield of nine bushels O
less, flax growing should be yer.
profitable for the hard spring whea
states which at the present time ar
growing SO per cent of our entir
crob"