Reintroducing Linseed as a Break Crop for the Great Southern

For many growers across the Great Southern region, crop rotations have narrowed over time. Cereals dominate, canola does the break-crop heavy lifting, and the system works, until disease pressure rises, weed control options tighten, or seasonal risk exposes its limits. This project funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) set out to test whether linseed could once again play a practical role in modern dryland farming systems.

Linseed has historical roots in the region, having been grown widely in the mid-20th century before global market shifts pushed it out of local rotations. Today, renewed demand for linseed oil, driven by human health markets, has reopened the question: can linseed perform reliably under Great Southern conditions, using existing farm systems?

Testing linseed under local conditions

Between 2019 and 2020, a series of small-plot and paddock-scale trials were established across Darkan, Wagin, Kojonup and surrounding districts. The trials focused on the agronomic fundamentals growers need answered first: time of sowing, seeding rate, nitrogen requirements, varietal performance, and yield reliability under variable rainfall.

The results were clear. Time of sowing had the greatest influence on yield, with earlier sowing consistently outperforming later dates. Adjustments to seeding rate and nitrogen had comparatively minor effects, simplifying management decisions for growers considering the crop. Even in the low-rainfall 2019 season, linseed produced yields of up to 1.0 t/ha on suitable soil types, demonstrating resilience under pressure.

Varietal performance also mattered. Glenelg generally delivered higher grain yields and oil quantity, while Croxton produced higher oil quality. In the 2020 paddock-scale demonstrations, the shorter-season variety Bilton showed promise in drier finishes, achieving yields close to canola and highlighting the value of matching variety choice to seasonal risk.

Fit within existing farming systems

One of the strongest outcomes from the project was confirmation that linseed can be grown using standard cropping machinery and management practices. No specialist equipment or major system changes were required, removing a key barrier to adoption. Agronomic guidelines developed through the trials now provide growers with a practical starting point for including linseed in their rotations.

Beyond grain yield, linseed showed value as a genuine break crop. It helps disrupt disease cycles, broadens weed control options, and contributes to improved performance of following cereal crops. These rotational benefits mean linseed delivers value beyond its own gross margin, strengthening whole-farm system resilience.

From trials to paddocks

By the end of the project, linseed had moved from “interesting idea” to proven option. Grower confidence increased, with more than 60 hectares planted outside the trial program in 2021. The remaining challenge lies beyond the paddock, developing reliable supply chains, storage pathways and processing options to support larger-scale production.

This project has demonstrated that linseed is agronomically viable in the Great Southern, fits existing farming systems, and delivers meaningful rotational benefits. With market development to match on-farm capability, linseed has the potential to become a valuable addition to diversified, resilient cropping programs across the region.