BIG LINSEED CROP

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 10

BIG LINSEED CROP

“This season's linseed crop should be one of the biggest we have had,” says Mr G. Pitt, field officer for Fletcher Agriculture at Winslow in MidCanterbury.

He said farmers had contracted to grow 17,000 acres in the North Otago and Canterbury areas this season, with over half the crop being in the Ashburton district.

“The crop is now flowering' profusely in the Ashburton area,” said Mr Pitt, “and harvesting . has started on some farms. “I am hopeful of a record harvest of around 12,000 to 13,000 tonnes provided we get good harvesting weather.” Farmers, he said, should ensure in harvesting' the crop that they used a plain, sharp knife, with the ledger plates on the cutter bar in good condition. “Many of the difficulties in harvesting are due to a serrated, dull knife, which leads to shredding of the fibrous straw, tangling and gumming up of the knife.” Most of the crop is harvested and transported in bulk, and virtually the whole crop is now moved

by rail to the Dunedin factory.

Mr Pitt said a moisture testing service was now available to fanners who wished to get their crop tested. A moisture content of 10 per cent or lower was required, especially where the crop was being stored on the farm for several weeks. Linseed with a higher moisture content than 10 per cent was very susceptible to heating, going mouldy and caking, and

farmers should make every effort to get below the required moisture content. Mr Pitt emphasised that it was a farmer’s responsibility to get his crop into the rail waggon and that the waggons were clean, dry and suitable for bulk transport of linseed. “There is always a rush to get the crop away and to avoid hold-ups farmers should confirm ‘he transport arrangements for their crop with the Railways Department as soon as the crop is ready to be sent,” said Mr Pitt. With the projected expansion of the crop, Fletcher Agriculture are upgrading their Dunedin factory to cope with the crop. It is expected the work will be completed early this year.