Imperial Valley press., 1936-12-16
SURVEY MADE
ON OUTLOOK
FOR ~ FLAX

Both world demand for flaxseed
and world supplies will probably be
larger during the marketing of next
years domestic crop than during the
current marketing season according
to the bureau of agricultural econ
omics of the United States depart
ment of agriculture World supplies
of flaxseed on August l, 1887 seems
likely to be considered above those
available this year, if conditions are
more nearly normal than during the
last few years, when severe drougf1ts
in North America and in Argentine
have reduced production far below
normal. Domestic. bIilding activity
and national inssm are expected to
be higher in the fall of 1887. than
at present. Some increase in build
ing activity in Great Britain in 1897
is also expected. These factors, to-
gether with current moves toward
stabilization of currencies and re-
moval of barriers to international
trade. would seem to justify the ex-
pectation of a somewhat greater
world demand for haxseed in the
fall of 1887 than at the present time.
The quantity of flaxseed available
for market on August /, 1886 in the
United States. Canada, Argentine,
and India was very short compared
with similar figure in 1885, which
was about equal to 5-year average
ended August 1895. On the other
hand, if later information confirms
present prospects, the Argentine
crop to be harvested this December
and in the early months Of 1887 will
be much larger than last years
short crop and about equal TO aver
age and may be expected to play
an increasingly important part dur
ing the remainder of the marketing
season of the domestic 1886 crop.
World supplies of flaXSeed during
the 1937-37 season seem likely to be
somewhat above those of 1861
If per-acre yields are more nearly
normal than during the last several
years, when severe droughts caused
extensive abandonment of seeded
acreage and reduced outturns in i'm
portant producing countries.
The acreage of flax seeded in 1886
was slightly in excess of the seeded
acreage of 1885 Drought caused
total failure of flax in large areas of
North Dakota. South Dakota, and
Montana Following year Of low
yields and heavy abandonment for
both flax and spring wheat, plant
ings Of flax in 1897 will probably de-
pend more on the spring moisture
conditions and on the available seed
supply than on relative returns Of
last year or on prospecting returns
in 1887. Much of the flaxseed crop
in the northern states is of poor
quality and low termination, and
the supply OF seed suitable for SOW
ing is short. Even if normal condi-
tons for seeding wheat and flax
prevail, and no marked change in
the price Of flax relative to wheat
occurs between now and planting
time, the acreage planted in the
northern flaxseed-producing states
will probably be somewhat less than
the acreage seeded in 1895. Produc-
ton in California has increased
steadily in recent years and in other
states the acreage of flax may be
maintained. yet there is little like
hhood that the flax acreage in the
United States in 1897 viii equal the
acreage seeded in 1895.
Present and prospective levels of
building activity, industrial produc-
tion. and other factors bearing up
on the demand for flaxseed here
and abroad indicate that demand in
four principal linseed oil consum-
ing countries is now we'll above the
level maintained during the mark
citing OF the 1885 domestic flaxseed
crop A further increase in demand
Is expected TO occur during the re-
mainder OF the marketing season for
the 1896 crop. with less marked
upward trenu continued through the
fail months OF 1897.