Fiber-Flax Machinery and Processing Operations in Oregon

Excerpts from report Summary: About 12,000 acres of fiber flax was grown in the United States in 1941, chiefly in Oregon. The flax produced was only about one-tenth of the amount needed to meet normal peacetime demands. The war has restricted trade channels, thereby creating a demand for home grown flax for fire hose and other essential linen articles for our armed forces. Three flax mills were constructed in Oregon in 1936 with State and Federal assistance for operation as farmers' cooperatives. This expansion increased the rated capacity of Oregon mills from about 4,000 to 7,600 tons of pulled flax per year. New mills constructed in 1941 and additions to existing mills further increased processing facilities in Oregon. Machines for harvesting and processing, including pullers, deseeders, and scutchers, have been imported. There have been no local dealers selling or servicing flax machinery. Imports of machinery from Europe have been cut off due to the war and local firms are now in production. Several pieces of equipment developed by the Bureau are being produced by local shops.