Grow linseed with Cope
Secure a premium market with one of the UK's most profitable break crops
Looking for a break crop that reduces input costs while giving you access to premium grain markets?
COPE’s linseed buy-back contracts provide growers with a secure route to market, competitive premiums and expert agronomy support. With autumn and spring varieties available, plus contracts for human consumption, pet food, export and specialist markets, linseed is an increasingly attractive alternative to oilseed rape.
Why choose a COPE linseed contract?
Premium market opportunities
Grow with confidence knowing your crop has access to a range of established markets.
We offer contracts for:
- Human consumption
- Pet food
- Export markets
- Premium specialist homes (subject to specification)
Premium price
- Conventional – £50/tonne over open market conventional linseed price ex farm.
- Organic – £100/tonne over the open market organic linseed price ex farm.
* Premium price paid on sample approval for human consumption.
Is linseed right for your farm?
Linseed is an excellent option if you’re looking for:
- A profitable break crop
- Lower fertiliser requirements
- An alternative to oilseed rape with a later drilling window
- Premium grain markets
- Autumn or spring drilling flexibility
- Expert agronomy support
- Buy-back contracts with established end users
Flexibile contract options
Every farm is different, so we offer flexibility to suit your business.
- Min/max contracts available
- Premium contracts where specification is achieved
- Conventional and organic contracts
- Autumn and spring linseed varieties
This gives you greater choice when managing price risk and planning your rotation.
Expert agronomy support
Growing linseed successfully starts with the right advice.
Every COPE contract includes dedicated agronomy support from specialists with practical experience of growing high-performing linseed crops. We’ll help you maximise establishment, manage the crop throughout the season and achieve market specification.
Linseed agronomy
Key points
- Requires a warm moist seedbed 6+ degrees
- Keep a watch out for flax flea beetle, especially in the early stages of growth
- Appropriate use of fertilisers to encourage continuous green leaf area. This is key for building yield.
Seed rates and establishment
- 600-700 Seeds/m2 normally, but can go to 800 (depending on TGW and Variety)
- Optimum plant target is 400 plants/m2
- Fine seedbed with a good tilth
- Consolidation of soil to ensure good seed contact
- Establishment is key to a successful crop
- Ensure that the field selected has good drainage
Seed types
- pH 6.0 – 7.0 Optimum (pH 8.0 OK)
- Rotation: 4-5 years from OSR/peas/beans due to sclerotinia and flea beetle
- Most soils are appropriate, but avoid heavy clay
- Optimum drilling dates and depth:
- Spring: mid-March to mid-April @ 1.5-2cm depth
- Winter: Early-Late September @ 2-3cm depth