growing flax in mid ny

need pointers in growing, harvesting and storing flax...also like to hear on exp on feeding to dairy cows... roast it or straight grist it into grain ration.
 

I grew flax for quite a few years, I quit when it finally got too hard on the religion. I seeded just under a bushel per acre (about 50 lbs) with about 50-60 lbs 27-27-0 fertilizer on summerfallow. I seeded it fairly shallow, about an inch.

Harvesting can be a bear if the straw stays green. It'll wrap around the header auger, very difficult to cut and if you have a Massey combine the straw will wrap around the feederhouse beaters. Usually flax was the last crop seeded so we often got a frost before harvesting it which helped to dry down the straw. If you swath it that'll help dry the straw but it's very susceptible to wind damage then.

Normally the straw is dropped in windrows behind the combine, pushed into piles and burnt. I have read flax straw, especially if left in piles for a year, makes good feed for cattle, supposed to make their coats nice and shiny. I guess they really like it after its been sitting for a while.
 
yes saw that out there in the west... as far as swathing i'vea7 ft machine here in mid ny...less wind problems...out west we had rollers...wonder about would roasting help in its fat content... digestibility etc... or simply better combine... after swathing put into grain bin... as you take it out to feed run it thru hammer mill coarse grist.
 

Yes I pulled a roller behind the swather but usually followed close behind the swather with the combine picking up the swath. Most flax here is straight cut now but that sometimes means waiting until late fall. To store flax seed it should be at least 10% moisture or less and even then I've had it get lumpy in the bin when dryer than that. I expect your humidity would normally be higher than here so you'd have to watch it closely in case it starts heating.

I have no experience feeding it to livestock.
 

Forgot to mention - make sure the knife and guards on your swather or combine are in very good condition. Flax is almost impossible to cut with a worn out knife and guards.
 
(quoted from post at 21:54:59 06/16/20) Is there a reason you couldn t Bale the straw right behind the
combine?

As far as I know the straw can be baled right away. Years ago one of my neighbours did that and sold the straw to golf courses in the area. They used it to cover the greens in winter. Also seen it baled and hauled to a plant in Manitoba, I think they used it for making some kind of paper product. I used to push the straw up in piles using an old pull-type swather with the outlet blocked off and burned off the piles (prevents problems seeding in the spring).
 
(quoted from post at 14:30:11 06/18/20)
(quoted from post at 21:54:59 06/16/20) Is there a reason you couldn t Bale the straw right behind the
combine?

As far as I know the straw can be baled right away. Years ago one of my neighbours did that and sold the straw to golf courses in the area. They used it to cover the greens in winter. Also seen it baled and hauled to a plant in Manitoba, I think they used it for making some kind of paper product. I used to push the straw up in piles using an old pull-type swather with the outlet blocked off and burned off the piles (prevents problems seeding in the spring).

i've a few dairies around me with pack barns...interested in it....
 

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