Flax Stewardship Program
2014/2015 Flax Sample Testing Program
As of September 1, 2010, any flax entering the commercial grain handling system was subjected to rigorous testing for the presence of CDC Triffid, a genetically modified flax. Since then the flax industry has made considerable progress in the efforts to clear CDC Triffid from the grain supply.
Reconstituted seed of several key products was launched in 2014 as one of the final stages in this process. For the benefit of the overall flax industry for the future, any flax producers that did not purchase certified seed or reconstituted seed in 2014 are encouraged to do so for 2015. Reconstituted seed supplies are expected to be good for 2015. Certified seed is the most reliable and highest quality source of planting seed for flax growers. Using certified seed this spring will be more important than ever because of the need to “start from zero” with our planting seed in order to restore access to markets and confidence in the Canadian flax supply. To find Certified flax seed, go to:
cpsagu.com
viterra.com
seedlocator.net
secan.com
As long as farm saved seed from previous generations of stock seed are used the potential for Triffid to show up in grain shipments is possible.
Producers are encouraged to complete testing of harvested flax seed and planting seed for the presence of Triffid. A description of sampling procedures is below.
Procedures for testing Farm Saved Seed:
- To ensure the highest confidence in the testing procedures, a sample of seed must be drawn across the entire lot of seed. This may be done a number of ways; however, the best and most preferred method is to sample directly from a clean seed stream. This includes but is not limited to sampling as the clean seed is:
- coming off the cleaners;
- being loaded into a truck;
- being transferred from the truck into a seed bin on farm.
- A minimum 4 subsamples per 1 metric tonne (1 sample per 10 bushels) must be drawn and mixed thoroughly. Example: a 5 mt lot will require 20 subsamples.
- A lot may not be any larger than 20 mt.
- A representative 2 kg sample is to be submitted to a lab on the Flax Council’s list of approved testing labs (link to labs) for Triffid testing (4 x 60g).
ONLY SEED TESTING NEGATIVE WILL BE ACCEPTABLE FOR PLANTING
- At harvest or delivery of the 2014 and 2015 crop, the grower will be asked to provide a certificate of laboratory analysis that verifies the planting seed tested negative.
SAMPLE SUBMISSION TO APPROVED LABORATORIES
OF FLAX SAMPLES FOR TRIFFID TESTING
Frequently Asked Question
Q: How many bushels can be sampled for one 2 kg sample for submission to an approved laboratory?
A: It is recommended that one sample can cover up to 5,000 bushels if the crop was seeded from the same seed source and the entire field has the same recent cropping history. As has been previously stated, the quality of the sample is reliant upon sound sampling techniques.
For further information, please contact Don Kerr, President, Flax Council of Canada, by phone at 204-982-2115 or by e-mail at flax@flaxcouncil.ca
IMPORTANT
Please note that some flax buyers will only accept test results from certain labs (link to labs).
The following companies will only accept results from labs as listed below. This list may be modified. Please check for updates.
- Eurofins GeneScan, Inc.
- Quantum Biosciences Inc.
