March 23, 2015 Flax Council of Canada Stewardship Program Update
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA (MARCH 23, 2015) - The Farm Stewardship Program was started in 2009 as a means to measure levels of Triffid at the farm. Sampling and testing of producer stocks both current and farm-saved provided an effective tool in monitoring the progress toward the effort to clear Triffid from the flax production.
At the same time farmers were asked to shift from using their own stocks for planting to buying certified seed and reconstituted seed products as they came available in 2014 as one of the stages in this process.
We are fast approaching spring and as farmers plan for their new crop we strongly recommend that any flax producers who did not purchase certified seed in 2014 please plan to do so for 2015. There should be ample supplies available to the grower this year, please check with your seed supplier.
With the support of our flax growers we have made tremendous progress in moving closer to the goal of zero presence of Triffid in the system. “We are currently seeing extremely low levels but, although we are close to our objective, as long as farm saved seed is being used at all, we cannot discontinue the sampling and testing procedure.” said Don Kerr, President, Flax Council of Canada.
Producers are encouraged to complete testing of harvested flax seed and planting seed for the presence of Triffid. A description of sampling procedures can be found on the Flax Council’s website. Please note that some flax buyers will only accept test results from certain labs. Check with the Flax Council for the complete list of approved testing labs: www.flaxcouncil.ca-30-
Contact:
Don Kerr
President
Flax Council of Canada
Ph: 204-982-2115
E-mail: flax@flaxcouncil.ca
Website: www.flaxcouncil.ca
Eric Fridfinnson
Chair
Manitoba Flax Growers Association
Ph: 204-982-3990
E-mail: mfga@mymts.net
Website: www.mfga.ca
Wayne Thompson
Executive Director
Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
Ph: 306-664-1901
E-mail: wayne@saskflax.com
Website: www.saskflax.com