(Dave Bedard photo)

Canada’s expected flax area smallest since 1950

Other commodity prices outperforming flax

MarketsFarm — Blue flowery fields of flax will be fewer and farther between in Western Canada, according to Statistics Canada’s (StatCan) first survey-based seeding intentions report for 2023-24. In a report released late last month, StatCan projected only 689,000 acres of flaxseed to be planted this spring, an 11.6 per cent decrease from the year […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Flax facing tightening supplies

MarketsFarm — Solid export demand has pushed Canadian flax prices up sharply over the past month, with the market working to ration demand amid expectations for tightening supplies. The flax market in general is “just gone crazy. We’re up 50 per cent since the start of harvest,” Scott Shiels of Grain Millers Canada at Yorkton, […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Flax prices muted

MarketsFarm — Flax yields are expected to be average at harvest season, thanks to the combination of more seeded acres and inclement growing conditions. Export numbers have been lower in recent years, due in part to China having opted to import flax from other countries besides Canada. According to an early 2019 report from FarmLead, […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Prairie flax market flat, acres set to decline

CNS Canada — A flat flax market in Western Canada has buyers feeling indifferent about this year’s prospects. “There’s no big hurrahs right now on flax… I hate to say it, I’m a very optimistic type of person, but it’s kind of a flat market right now,” said Ben Friesen, senior market manager at Scoular […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Flax growers scout soggy fields as prices edge upward

CNS Canada — Producers are assessing the effects of weekend rains that soaked flax crops in Western Canada, while prices have ticked up slightly as data reflects shrinking acres. Flax fields in western Manitoba saw thunderstorms and powerful winds, which knocked out power in some areas of the province during the weekend. Parts of southeastern […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Flax industry fighting to regain lost acres

CNS Canada — After losing ground to pulses this year, a flax industry group is working on ways to be competitive going forward. “It’s the year of the pulses, and certainly growers are taking advantage of good prices for pulses,” said Don Kerr, president at the Flax Council of Canada, referring to the United Nations […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Flax expected to lose a third of acres

CNS Canada — Canada’s flax acres are expected to fall about a third from last year’s levels, according to Statistics Canada data. One market participant says weaker prices have influenced farmers, while another says smaller crops are often overlooked during surveys. StatsCan estimates flax’s seeded area at about 1.1 million acres, compared with 1.6 million acres […] Read more


(FlaxCouncil.ca)

Potential for fewer flax acres seen this year

CNS Canada — While area seeded to flax in Canada has been increasing over the past four years, that upward momentum may halt in 2016-17. Flax’s cost of production is higher than many of its rivals and the growing lustre of pulse crops could cut into some acres, according to one industry watcher. “It’s too […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Flax prices see upward bump on increased demand

CNS Canada –– Foreign demand has picked up in the flax market, according to a grain brokerage firm — and despite increased competition, Canadian prices have seen a slight uptick as limited quality flax is available. Old-crop flax prices have increased slightly since harvest, as farmers have been firm on sales, and demand has picked […] Read more