US Flax Output Up Sharply; Lentil, Pea Crops Larger

Jan 12, 2023

Just like north of the border, American producers had a big bounce back year for flax production.

In its first estimate of the 2022 crop on Thursday, the USDA pegged American flax output at 120,400 tonnes, up a major 58% from the drought-reduced 2021 crop of just 93,156 tonnes. At 244,000 tonnes, US flax harvested area was down 10% on the year, but that reduction was more than offset by a 7.5-bu improvement in the average yield to 17.6 bu/acre.

In Canada, flax production this past year amounted to 473,175 tonnes, an increase of almost 37%. Harvested area was down 22.7% but the average yield jumped 10.6 bu to 24.2 bu/acre.

Meanwhile, the 2022 US pea and lentil crops were bigger than originally forecast as well.

Today’s USDA annual crop summary put the lentil crop at 274,500 tonnes, up from the earlier estimate of 242,550 and 61% above the 2021 crop. Harvested area was actually reduced, but the average yield was revised way up 912 lbs/acre, compared to the previous estimate of 766 lbs and only 606 lbs in 2021.

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The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

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Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.