An integrated approach to investigating the reintroduction of flax production in Iowa.

The objectives of this research are a biological and sociological approach.

These results will provide upper Midwestern, specifically Iowa, organic farmers with current, agronomic production guidelines from research conducted on-farm and on experiment stations, and to analyze the capability of these farmers to incorporate this alternative crop into their crop rotations.

The effect of planting date, cultivar selection, planting rate, legume establishment, weed management strategies categorized as mechanical, chemical and biological: flax grain yield, straw biomass yield, total oil content, fatty acid profile, and underseeding and weed biomass production are analyzed.

Additionally, straw quality characteristics were assessed.