Even before the ‘empty’ spring hectares brought about by reduced autumn plantings and struggling autumn crops become a factor this spring, there was a noticeable interest in spring linseed as an effective break crop. Nigel Bazeley of Premium Crops says that linseed has a number of key agronomic factors such as its later planting date, its different family, its herbicide options and earlier harvest that have made it much more popular crop.

“Farmers are looking for viable alternative break crops, not just to take up the empty acres but also as a positive management decision. Spring linseed seems to be attracting a lot of interest and we estimate that there will be a significant increase in the acreage of linseed planted this spring,” says Nigel.

“One agronomic advantage of linseed is that it comes from different family to the rape crop, which means that it provides an effective break crop with regard to pests and diseases and even for slugs. Planting spring rape in an already crowded rape rotation can bring about more pest and disease issues to deal with now and later on. Linseed’s later spring planting window, which runs from mid-March to late April, also lends itself to the use of stale seedbeds and pre-emergence Avadex Granules (tri-allate) which will help break the black-grass cycle across the rotation. Spring linseed is also very straight forward when it comes to the control of broad-leaved weeds,” Nigel points out.

Dr. Dominic Lamb of Gowan reports Avadex 15G Granules has been used in winter linseed to help control difficult grass weeds such as black-grass, annual meadow-grass and wild-oats as well as control some broad-leaved weeds including cleavers, charlock, chickweed, mayweed and poppy.  “Avadex Granules can also be used in spring rape to break the weed cycle. It is crop safe and gives excellent weed control including black-grass. With regard to application, just get kitted up for application yourself or get one of the many contractors to apply it for you.”

“Last autumn many growers decided to get tooled up to apply Avadex Granules themselves, following the increase in the number of manufacturers who have developed suitable applicators. Or growers can use the services of a contractor, details of which can be found on our web site www.avadex.co.uk ,” says Dominic.

Nigel Bazeley points out that current spring linseed varieties are a lot easier to manage these days.  “The newer varieties, such as Altess, Duchess, Comtess and Marquise, have short stiff straw and a low level of fibre in the stem, making harvest much easier. EasyCut varieties have 30% less fibre in their stems. Harvest time is also earlier, allowing a great and clean entry for wheat.”

“Over the years many linseed growers have commented that wheat following linseed produces a higher yield than wheat following rape and research has now confirmed this to be the case. Linseed has a vigorous tap rot with a mass of lateral roots that break up and improve soil structure – a real benefit this spring following 12 months of difficult conditions that have led to inevitable soil damage.”

In addition to spring linseed, Avadex Granules has full label recommendations for spring barley, vining peas, forage/dried peas, field beans, sugar beet, red beet, fodder beet and mangels and Extensions of Authorisation for Minor Uses (formerly SOLAs) for use in spring oilseed rape, canary seed, lupins and broad beans.