Could spring linseed offer an answer for farmers rethinking rotations this spring?
12th February 2026
After recent seasons marked by agronomic challenges, weak demand and disappointing returns from many traditional spring crops, identifying a profitable, low-risk break crop with secure market outlets has become increasingly difficult for UK arable farmers, said Jack Holgate, commercial director at Boston Seeds.
Mr Holgate explained that farmers want to grow crops supported by contracts that give them strong fixed prices with profitable returns. He said that with demand for UK-grown linseed continuing to remain high against a backdrop of depressed markets and uncertainty surrounding many other spring crops, spring linseed could be a key answer for many growers currently considering a rotational rethink this spring.
“Linseed offers a combination of low input costs and strong market opportunities. With pressure on profit margins, tighter rotations and a growing focus on improving soil health, spring linseed continues to prove itself as a valuable and increasingly relevant break crop for UK arable systems.
“Profitability is a key driver, and spring linseed generally requires fewer inputs than many alternative spring crops – yet can still deliver competitive gross margins with high-yielding varieties.
“With a seed yield of 109% to controls, it’s great to see the variety Bingo, from Elsoms Seeds and Van de Bilt, still at the top of the latest Descriptive List (DL). A popular and well-established variety with robust agronomics, Bingo has consistently delivered high yields across a range of soil types, and, at Boston Seeds, we’ve sold the variety successfully for many years,” Mr Holgate added.
True break crop
The expert explained that maturity and stiff straw help reduce harvest risk, while its disease resistance and good standing power make it a practical, straightforward variety to manage. “That reliability is crucial when spring drilling windows are tight and with weather patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable,” Mr Holgate highlighted.
He also said that beyond the headline figures, the wider rotational benefits offered by spring linseed are just as important. “As a true break crop, it helps disrupt cereal and oilseed rape pest and disease cycles, providing a useful tool for weed management. Its rooting structure is unrivalled, offering significant benefits to soil condition, improving soil structure and making it a great entry for a first wheat.
“Another key to the renewed interest in spring linseed has been the arrival of new, competitive varieties. With a seed yield of 108% to controls, Balance, another variety from the Elsoms and Van de Bilt collaboration, is a new entrant to the DL, sitting just behind Bingo as the second highest yielding variety.”
The Boston Seeds commercial director added that this year the main focus will be on multiplying seed for Balance, and the expectation is that it should be in a strong position on seed availability for spring 2027.
He continued: “Agronomically, Balance looks like a strong variety, and the fact that Elsoms and Van de Bilt select spring linseed varieties specifically for UK conditions should make it an attractive choice for growers.
“Overall demand for UK spring linseed is still very positive, and with spring contracts for harvest 2026 on offer at £550-£600/t, plus seed stocks shaping up to be tight this spring, any growers still planning to include spring linseed in their 2026 rotation need to get their seed orders in as soon as possible,” he concluded.
Bingo and Balance
Panida Wadsworth, a breeder for Elsom Seeds – the UK agent for both Bingo and Balance – has been monitoring the performance of Balance across both AHDB and independent commercial trials for the last four years.
She said: “We first trialled Balance in 2022, and, from the outset, it looked special, topping both the UK independent pre-commercial trials as well as parallel linseed trials conducted in Europe that year. From 2022 to 2025, it has shown high levels of consistency and has matched the DL’s highest yielding variety, Bingo, on most of the key metrics, including plant height, seed quality and annual seed yield.
“Despite being awarded the same maturity rating on official trials figures, we’ve found that Balance consistently matures later than Bingo, enabling it to be potentially drilled a few days earlier as long as soil temperatures permit. This gives Balance a wider growing window, allowing the plant more time to accumulate greater biomass and take advantage of an extended seed-filling phase.”
Ms Wadsworth added that it is also worth noting that Balance has one of the highest alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) percentages on the current DL, and, with increased demand for omega-3 in animal feeds, this key trait can only help strengthen its future marketability.
“Looking ahead, I can certainly see Balance as the preferred partner to Bingo. Both varieties are very high yielding and can be grown in the same rotation, with Balance being drilled a few days earlier as long as conditions permit. This allows growers to spread their varietal risk and gain the advantages of its wider growing window,” she concluded.
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