Winter Linseed Area Up By Over 300%

Winter Linseed plantings this autumn have risen 3-fold compared with the area sown last year, according to the UK’s largest linseed trader, Premium Crops.

“Much of this increase may well have been driven by farmers looking for an alternative to winter oilseed rape, but clearly that’s not the only reason because our HEAR rapeseed sales have risen this autumn too” says Andrew Probert, Managing Director, “A lot of people who grew winter linseed in 2018/19 have planted more this autumn as they experience a higher and more consistent yield from the winter sown crop”.

Gordon Redman, farmer in Bedfordshire said “It’s been the easiest Linseed I have cut to date. Harvested on 24th July and crop moved off farm on 2nd August. Winter Linseed is staying in the rotation and we have an acreage booked for the coming Autumn.” and, Edward Whitfield from Lincolnshire said ” We finished cutting the crop on 25th July, with yields of 1.1t/acre (2.72t/ha) we are booked to grow 45 ha for the coming season.”

Linseed is clearly demonstrating its value as a break crop too, “With input costs for oilseed rape at an all-time high and flea beetle controls diminishing, Winter Linseed is without doubt the next best winter break crop.”, says Richard Pickford, ProCam Director and Agronomist and, while the winter season is behind us, there are still opportunities to sow linseed this spring.

With more varieties available the range of contracts for spring linseed is greater than the winter sown crop, with standard brown contracts based on a price of around £350 per tonne and yields in the region of 2.0 to 2.5mt/ha, a gross output of over £700 is a realistic target. By choosing specific varieties there are options to extend the value even further with additional quality premiums for characteristics our markets favour or require. All contracts are backed with a full agronomy advice service from in-house Company Agronomists.

Premium Crops will be attending CropTec 2019 (Stand No. 1.63) and our experienced staff will be on hand to discuss the opportunities that spring linseed can offer.