July 11, 2002

Nekoma Flax Variety Released by NDSU Ag Experiment Station

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

Named after the town of Nekoma, N.D., in Cavalier County, the flax variety was developed under the leadership of Jim Hammond, flax breeder with the NDSU Department of Plant Sciences.

Hammond says Nekoma is significantly earlier than McGregor flax in days to flower and similar in maturity and seed and test weight. Nekoma has about a 2 percent greater oil content than McGregor.

Nekoma is resistant to all known races of North American flax rust and has good tolerance to flax wilt. In three years of research tests, Nekoma has outyielded McGregor by 7 percent.

"Nekoma 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, Nekoma should generate significant additional income for North Dakota flax growers."

North Dakota's flax acreage has increased significantly in recent years. Seed of Nekoma will be allocated through county crop improvement and seed associations and the North Dakota Agricultural Association.

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Source: Al Schneiter, (701) 231-8137, albert.schneiter@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9692, tjrik@ndsuext.nodak.edu