Flax: attractive but delicate
”Flax primarily is a product for the textile industry, for clothing and interior design,” Marc Vandecaendelaere, chairman of the Coopérative Linière du Nord de Caen (Northern Caen Flax Cooperative) since 2020, explains. Since the closure of the local sugar factory in 2020, the cultivated area has increased significantly. Flax and hemp have replaced sugar beet in crop rotation.
The sector benefits from a strategic advantage: almost 70% of global flax cultivation takes place in the English Channel region between Brittany and the Netherlands. This quasi-monopoly is due to the quality of the soil and the climate which are essential for the retting of the fibres. During this process, bacteria destroy the “glue” that fixes the fibres to the straw. The sharp rise in global demand since 2020 consolidates this position. “Flax is attractive because it is natural and environmentally friendly. But it still plays only a marginal role, accounting for just 0.4% of fibres worldwide.”
From an economic point of view, the sector works without quotas: prices are determined by supply and demand. "During Corona, the spinning mills did not buy for three months. We didn't sell anything,” Marc Vandecaendelaere explains. Since then, prices have risen overall, but they still depend on economic imponderables: fluctuations of the dollar exchange rate, customs duties, economic slowdowns in China or India, the most important export markets. Final consumption is distributed all over the world with the United States accounting for 20 to 25% of the end market.”
Profitability varies enormously. “In very good years, you can achieve a turnover of 7,000 to 8,000 euros per hectare, but the costs range between 2,500 and 3,000 euros,” Mr Vandecaendelaere dampens expectations. Flax grows within a hundred days, but is extremely sensitive to climatic fluctuations, diseases and, in general, the quality of the farmer's work.
Technology-oriented cultivation method
Florian Mocquereau, the agronomic manager of a 350 hectare farm in the department Eure, has accepted the challenge set by his boss, José Vanfleteren. “This is nothing new for us as we already are the third generation to grow this crop on our farm in Normandy.” Flax is usually grown after wheat, at the top of the crop rotation. However, it should not be grown too often on the same plot: a seven-year cycle is ideal. “The sooner you grow flax again, the greater the risk of disease and pest infestation,” he emphasises. In fact, the plant does not tolerate repetition well, and long crop rotations are the best way to maintain quality and yield while limiting pest pressure. “Growing flax on 15 % of the farm's land is the perfect ratio. Some farmers have decided to grow flax on 30 % of their land, but this shortens the crop rotation and has a negative impact on production. That's a shame!”
The preparation of the soil plays a key role. After the harvest, the straw is removed and replaced with manure. The stubble is then finely crushed. Several passes with a disc cultivator at a depth of 5 to 10 cm in a diagonal direction allow for levelling unevenness, incorporating residues and controlling regrowth. Basic fertilisation with phosphorus and potassium takes place in August before a second pass with the disc cultivator is carried out to remove ryegrass and cereal regrowth. At the end of summer, Florian decided to sow a mixture of Abyssinian mustard, phacelia, Alexandrian clover and fodder vetch. This soil cover reduces washing out, gives the soil structure due to the root system and improves water availability for the flax in the following spring. “Good soil coverage makes all the difference. On the plots where it was poor, the flax suffered greatly from drought,” Florian Mocquereau reports.
Delicate seeding
Flax is sown between 15 March and 15 April – a window that is increasingly limited by the climate change. The east wind, which has become more frequent and drier in recent years, requires quick and precise action. “Before sowing, we cultivate the soil deeply with a Terrano FX, then refine it as much as possible with a power harrow and roll it to preserve moisture,” Florian Mocquereau explains. The objective: quick and efficient root formation with minimal water loss.
The choice of the seed drill is strategically important. Some opt for the Express or Versa seed drill combination which intensively refines the soil and reduces pressure from flax flea beetles (not to be confused with the large and small leaf beetles) as these insects seek shelter under lumps of soil. Others prefer seed drills such as the Pronto DC. Florian Mocquereau compares the two types of seed drill: "I understand why farmers choose the Pronto DC which allows for focussing on the work rate. In this case, it is essential to opt for the front packer and track eradicators. However, the refinement is less precise. The finer the soil, the lower the flea beetle infestation. If there are too many lumps, insecticide treatments lose their effectiveness.” This is why Florian Mocquereau opted for the Express 4 KR. “With the TurboDisc, we achieve excellent seed-soil contact. The very low setting of the power harrow in combination with the levelling bar which keeps the soil in the machine and a pto-shaft speed of 1,000 revolutions per minute ensure that the size of the lumps of soil is reduced by a factor of three. The roller completes the work, presses the soil back down and crushes any remaining clods."
Romain Dechaumont, also a flax producer in the department Eure opted for a similar machine: the Pronto 6 KR: "The seed depth is an extremely important factor for flax. It often has to be sown very shallowly, at a depth of 1 cm. Sometimes, if the wind is dry, you have to sow a little deeper, but you have to avoid forming a crust that would prevent the crop from emerging. With the Pronto KR's TurboDisc bar, we can do this easily." Traditionally, some farmers sow flax with a row spacing of 12.5 cm. “This was also the case for us,” Romain Dechaumont remembers. “But our manufacturer process has proved that we don't lose any yield with a spacing of 15 cm. The 15 cm spacing also has the advantage that it is easier to get through the harvest residues when sowing other crops.”
Focus on soil compaction
Farmers are aware of the impact of soil compaction on their flax production. Romain Dechaumont uses a tractor with twin tyres at the front and rear for seeding but does not let this condition him: "I usually plough 50 % of my land from 15th November if the conditions are good. Thus, the soil can dry earlier in spring, and we can start with tillage as early as around 15th March. However, it is out of the question to work in conditions that are too wet as the tractor would leave tracks in the soil and jeopardise future yields.” Florian Mocquereau agrees: “As soon as the harvest is in, we already think about the next crop. The combine is equipped with caterpillar tracks and the trailers only drive in the tracks left by the sprayer. The trailers are equipped with low-pressure tyres and the tractors have a tyre pressure control system. Our farm is not big enough for its own auger wagon. That would be ideal for reducing soil compaction. The trailers are a good compromise!"
Increasing health risks
Once emerged, flax is exposed to several dangers. Flea beetles remain the biggest pests, and their impact increases every year because of the increasingly mild winters. The absence of frost makes a natural regulation of the population difficult. “This can also be observed for other species, such as hornets which by now appear in large numbers,” Florian Mocquereau notes.
With regard to diseases, mildew is the most dreaded. This year, it appeared early, already when the plants were only 40 to 50 cm high, probably in connection with severe water stress. “Flax is a plant that is easily stressed which makes it easier for the fungus to settle,” Florian explains. Normally, mildew is controlled with two fungicide treatments, but this year, several treatments with lower doses were required to contain the spreading in compliance with the legal regulations.
Climate is a decisive factor
Flax is a perfect example of the vulnerability of crops to extreme weather conditions. Too much water in spring sometimes delays seeding until May, while drought or heat waves during the growth cycle can severely impair growth and encourage disease. Excessive rainfall in spring and drying winds in summer make cultivation even more uncertain.
These fluctuations are reflected in the yield. In good years, producers achieve 8 to 9 tonnes of straw per hectare. However, in dry years affected by mildew, yield drops to 4 to 5 tonnes. In addition to quantity, the quality of the fibres also is directly affected: severe fungal infestation can lead to a downgrading of the fibre mass which greatly reduces the economic value of the harvest.
According to Florian Mocquereau, it is difficult to identify the levers that could be used to fight these extremes: “Water is the biggest problem. Nothing can compensate for the lack of water.” Romain Dechaumont confirms: "When the plant is under stress, diseases develop, the flax can be smaller and the quality is often impaired. Irrigation can therefore become an important tool for limiting the effects of extreme weather. In both 2023 and 2025, my irrigation system enabled me to save my yields and the proportion of fibre mass. In years like these, irrigation enables a potential gain of 1 to 2 tonnes of straw and around 5% fibre mass."
Summary:
Flax is a highly regional crop that struggles to develop in other regions. Nevertheless, it confirms many things:
- Compaction is a major disadvantage.
- The quality of the seedbed, seed depth, straw distribution and levelling are particularly important.
- Conditioning should be avoided.
- Climatic extremes are a reality.
- Even the most lucrative crops can generate disastrous economic results.
- Greed for profit can quickly lead to a collapse in the profitability of the farm if agronomic balance and crop rotation are not maintained.
Although droughts are a real problem, market dynamics for flax remain good. New markets are even emerging for short fibres which are becoming increasingly common due to repeated droughts: surfboards and skis are made from this raw material! This shows that resilience has to remain the top priority – whatever the cost.