US Flax Output Up Sharply; Lentil, Pea Crops Larger

Jan 12, 2023

Just like north of the border, American producers had a big bounce back year for flax production.

In its first estimate of the 2022 crop on Thursday, the USDA pegged American flax output at 120,400 tonnes, up a major 58% from the drought-reduced 2021 crop of just 93,156 tonnes. At 244,000 tonnes, US flax harvested area was down 10% on the year, but that reduction was more than offset by a 7.5-bu improvement in the average yield to 17.6 bu/acre.

In Canada, flax production this past year amounted to 473,175 tonnes, an increase of almost 37%. Harvested area was down 22.7% but the average yield jumped 10.6 bu to 24.2 bu/acre.

Meanwhile, the 2022 US pea and lentil crops were bigger than originally forecast as well.

Today’s USDA annual crop summary put the lentil crop at 274,500 tonnes, up from the earlier estimate of 242,550 and 61% above the 2021 crop. Harvested area was actually reduced, but the average yield was revised way up 912 lbs/acre, compared to the previous estimate of 766 lbs and only 606 lbs in 2021.

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Video: Canadian Wildfire Smoke Creates a Red Sunrise Over North Carolina Sunflower field - July 2026

A sunrise unlike any other.

This peaceful morning at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina was transformed by smoke drifting south from the Canadian wildfires. As the rising sun filtered through the haze, the sky glowed in deep shades of red and orange, casting a surreal light over the blooming sunflower field. While the colors were breathtaking, they also served as a reminder of how connected our environment is. Smoke from wildfires hundreds of miles away changed the appearance of a North Carolina sunrise, creating a rare and unforgettable moment in nature.

Take a few minutes to experience this quiet morning as the sun slowly rises through the smoky haze above one of Raleigh's most beloved summer landscapes.