The UK’s first winter-hardy flax seed has been launched, targeted at borage growers.
Premium Crops is offering contracts worth up to £1000/t for Jade – a flax variety that enables autumn sowing for stronger establishment, lower inputs, and a profitable diversification from oilseed rape.
Now submitted for inclusion on the UK Variety List, this breakthrough should fill a key export gap, suggests Premium Crops’ Nigel Padbury.
He says with global demand for UK-grown flax seed rising, Jade gives borage growers a natural diversification opportunity using their existing equipment and expertise. The crop can be efficiently harvested using the same swather and pick-up header combination that borage growers use, although it’s versatile enough to be combined conventionally as well, points out Nigel.
“We’re specifically reaching out to borage growers because they already have the infrastructure in place. They understand the nuances of specialty crop production and have the swathing equipment that makes all the difference.”
Agronomy
The agronomy for flax seed production mirrors that of traditional linseed, making it a natural fit for experienced growers seeking to diversify their rotations, he adds.
The key difference is that glyphosate can’t be used as a desiccant in seed production – while both linseed and flax can be harvested without a desiccant, using a swather and pick-up header makes harvesting significantly easier, just like a borage crop.
The launch of Jade directly responds to surging French demand for UK-grown flax seed, which has driven contract values to record highs.
Autumn drilling
Traditional UK flax production has been limited to spring varieties, leaving farmers vulnerable to late planting windows, variable establishment, and the challenge of fitting linseed into rotations. Conversely, Jade’s winter-hardy genetics changes the picture by enabling autumn sowing, making better use of land, spreading workload, and improving crop establishment, says Nigel.
With autumn drilling windows fast approaching, interested farmers should contact Premium Crops as contracts are available now.
“Borage growers have a genuine opportunity to diversify profitably with premium contracts already in place. Given the proven demand and equipment compatibility, this represents an ideal moment to expand into specialty crops,” concludes Nigel.
