UNITED STATES IS PURSUING NATURAL FIBERS AS SUSTAINABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SOURCES FOR A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS. FLAX (LINUM USITATISSIMUM L.) FIBER OFFERS MANY POSSIBILITIES TOWARDS THIS GOAL. SPECIFIC UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ARE TO: (1) EVALUATE TRADITIONAL FARM EQUIPMENT FOR FLAX PRODUCTION, (2) IMPROVE RETTING, ESPECIALLY THORUGH USE OF ENZYMES, (3) DEVELOP OBJECTIVE STANDARDS FOR FIBER QUALITY TESTING, AND (4) TEST FIBERS FOR MANUFACTURING PERFORMANCE AND/OR AESTHETIC PROPERTIES. FIBER FLAX FOR SHORT STAPLE USES CAN BE RAPIDLY HARVESTED BY EQUIPMENT READILY AVAILABLE ON U.S. FARMS. WARM SOUTHERN CLIMATES ALLOW THIS CROP TO BE GROWN IN THE WINTER TO PRODUCE FLAX ON TRADITIONALLY DORMANT FIELDS. ENZYMES TO EXTRACT FIBERS PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY METHOD FOR RELIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. COMMERICAL ENZYMES AND CALCIUM CHELATING AGENTS PROVIDE A KEY STEP IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTROLLED AND S...