As mowing would destroy the fibers, the harvest of flax is carried out with special machines that pull the roots out of the ground. The straw is then laid in parallel strips on the ground for drying and is picked up after it has rusted enough. Deciding when to harvest is crucial as flax growers must determine if the straw would come off easily during the following processing stages. The weather is also an important factor as the linen must neither be too dry nor wet.