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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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.