How early for spring linseed.

[Wigeon]

I know I know, its too early for linseed yet by about a month and a half, on normal metrics.

But what would happen if....

Slow emergence?
Flax fb problems?
Poor weed control?

 

[teslacoils]

Given the loss of the decent cheap chem and the need to grow this crop cheap, I'd not even look until I felt like I needed a day off around Easter hols.

Like fert spreading on valentine's Day, linseed drilling can wait until I'm trying to avoid Sunday lunch at the in-laws.

 

[Wigeon]

My mother in law has been staying for a week.

Completelty unrelated to the recent incredible progress with my front-loadef fert programme.

 

[yellow belly]

I know I know, its too early for linseed yet by about a month and a half, on normal metrics.

But what would happen if....

Slow emergence?
Flax fb problems?
Poor weed control?

Possibly too cold for flea beetle
try it now can always redrill later if you have some home saved seed
if the field has a history of bad weed control then early drilling may not help with some weeds but could with other
would not want a field with any history of black grass
avadex?

 

[Jam Tomorrow]

Don’t . Just don’t

 

[David.]

Towards middle of April if rain forecast.
Wants to go in and grow, if it's to stand any chance of outpacing flax beetle.

 

[Brisel]

Towards middle of April if rain forecast.
Wants to go in and grow, if it's to stand any chance of outpacing flax beetle.

This.

I have sown linseed in late Feb into a good seedbed on heavy land bit that was when we still had Chinook insecticide seed dressing and an off label approval for Chekker so weeds and flax flea beetle were not an issue. It yielded well back then, but given the reduced spray options now, I would recommend holding off until at least late March when seedbeds are much warmer and it can get away quickly.

@Premium Crops

 

[Niche-Crop Agronomist]

I know I know, its too early for linseed yet by about a month and a half, on normal metrics.

But what would happen if....

Slow emergence?
Flax fb problems?
Poor weed control?

Don't think you're wrong thinking to drill early but this is still about a month to soon. If you have some good conditions mid-March onwards get it in the ground at a circa 800-1000 seed rate. Soil temp. should likely be >8 and rising so quick emergence.
Flee beetle emergence is linked to temp. so getting a well established quick growing crop is the best defence, but Hallmark will still help if there is activity.
Also more soil moisture mid March to mid April so better efficacy of pre-ems based around Callisto, gives you more flexibility for Centurion Max and SU products late April early May.

 

[Against_the_grain]

Like the op I also have some land going into SLinseed which would probably drill today. Soils still cold though and we are only 15thFeb!
Having said that we have our best yields from earlier drilling but this would normally be early/mid March.

 

[teslacoils]

Don't think you're wrong thinking to drill early but this is still about a month to soon. If you have some good conditions mid-March onwards get it in the ground at a circa 800-1000 seed rate. Soil temp. should likely be >8 and rising so quick emergence.
Flee beetle emergence is linked to temp. so getting a well established quick growing crop is the best defence, but Hallmark will still help if there is activity.
Also more soil moisture mid March to mid April so better efficacy of pre-ems based around Callisto, gives you more flexibility for Centurion Max and SU products late April early May.

Drill later. If you're using Callisto, cmax etc and new seed you've essentially given the ahchem companies all your profit before the combines get near.

 

[Niche-Crop Agronomist]

Drill later. If you're using Callisto, cmax etc and new seed you've essentially given the ahchem companies all your profit before the combines get near.

If you have a crystal ball and know you're going to get sufficient rain in late April then by all means drill late and reduce inputs, but highest yields/more importantly best gross margins come from earlier drilled (late March) crops with good weed control and N in the seedbed.

 

[Brisel]

Prep your seedbeds now if you can do it well and have a low erosion risk, then drill with minimal disturbance following spraying off the flush of weeds in late March onwards.

 

[Wigeon]

Drill later. If you're using Callisto, cmax etc and new seed you've essentially given the ahchem companies all your profit before the combines get near.

Yes. The maths is very different with hss even if it is 50% cleavers and fat hen seed, as in my case..

 

[teslacoils]

If you have a crystal ball and know you're going to get sufficient rain in late April then by all means drill late and reduce inputs, but highest yields/more importantly best gross margins come from earlier drilled (late March) crops with good weed control and N in the seedbed.

As a long-term grower of spring linseed, I'll respectfully say that my crop is a magnitude more profitable since I out the Premium Crops agronomy guide to spring linseed in the bin.

Plenty of fss, all fert in the seedbed. Dd into the stubble. My gross margins are certainly higher with this method.

Source - been growing it since 2008.

 

[David.]

We DD last year into stubble, 750a, minimal disturbance and still got a smattering of BG.
Far and away the biggest downer was 2 passes of Hallmark for Flax beetle; a few neighbour's crops drilled earlier wiped out and redrilled.
Most disappointing, and the reason I'm out. Cannot see it's sustainable.

 

[Brisel]

We DD last year into stubble, 750a, minimal disturbance and still got a smattering of BG.
Far and away the biggest downer was 2 passes of Hallmark for Flax beetle; a few neighbour's crops drilled earlier wiped out and redrilled.
Most disappointing, and the reason I'm out. Cannot see it's sustainable.

When did you sow it and how much rain fell afterwards?

 

[Wigeon]

In my experience a fine dry seedbed just before a decent rain seems to work well.

DD not so much.

Drilled it last yr late march but usually early April. Cleavers, fat hen and wild oats biggest issues here.

 

[David.]

When did you sow it and how much rain fell afterwards?

10th May, rolled behind drill, own seed at 70kg/ ha, seed gone into fine surface tilth.
20mm rain on 11th May.
Pretty much as good as it gets.

 

[They see me rolling]

This.

I have sown linseed in late Feb into a good seedbed on heavy land bit that was when we still had Chinook insecticide seed dressing and an off label approval for Chekker so weeds and flax flea beetle were not an issue. It yielded well back then, but given the reduced spray options now, I would recommend holding off until at least late March when seedbeds are much warmer and it can get away quickly.

@Premium Crops

Agreed, April seems to be drier and drier. Personally, I think if there is moisture in the seed-bed mid-march onwards then go for it. However do use a good pre-em herbicide to take the pressure of weed control as there are reduced post-emergence options. With flax flea beetle its important linseed has moisture to grow and get going.

 

[ajd132]

I had the pleasure of taking on a situation where I had to try and grow spring linseed after hemp!
It was a well fertiliser cover crop in the end…!