March 15, 2002

NDSU Releases New Flax Variety: York

The Agricultural Experiment Station at North Dakota State University is releasing York flax, a new variety that has been tested extensively in the Dakotas, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Named after the town of York, N.D., in Benson County, NDSU’s newest flax variety was developed under the leadership of Jim Hammond, flax breeder with the NDSU Department of Plant Sciences. Hammond says York is similar to McGregor flax in days to flower, maturity and test weight. York has a slightly larger seed weight and about a 0.5 percent greater oil content than McGregor.

York is resistant to all known races of North American flax rust and has good tolerance to flax wilt. In three years of research tests, early plantings of York yielded 17 percent more than McGregor and late plantings of York yielded 22 percent more than McGregor.

"York has performed especially well in central North dakota and is expected to replace significant acreage of several older varieties, including McDuff, Linora and Flanders," says Al Schneiter, chair of the NDSU Department of Plant Sciences. "Because of the agronomic advantages it possesses, York should generate significant additional income for North Dakota flax growers."

North Dakota’s flax acreage has increased significantly in recent years. York seed is being allocated through county crop improvement and seed associations and the North Dakota Agricultural Association.

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Sources: Jim Hammond, (701) 231-8144, james_hammond@ndsu.nodak.edu
Al Schneiter, (701) 231-7971, albert_schneiter@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu