Efficiency Metric
Percentages describing the amount of unbroken flax obtained after mechanical scutching indicate the primary commercial value of a crop. A high long fibre yield confirms that the retting process and scutching machinery worked in optimal alignment to preserve the integrity of the plant strands. Mills prioritize this figure because long fibres command higher market prices and enable the production of superior yarns.
This value is traditionally recorded as a ratio of the original dry straw weight entering the facility.
Yield Factors
Genetic selection and field conditions during the growing phase dictate the potential length of the individual strands. Achieving a maximum long fibre yield requires careful timing during scutching to avoid breaking the delicate bundles through excessive speed or rough blade settings. If the fibre remains too weak or under retted, it breaks down into shorter tow instead of remaining as continuous long lines.
Constant adjustment of the turbine speeds helps scutchers manage this fragile material through varying weather shifts.
Product Evaluation
Calculation of this metric allows for accurate forecasting of mill profitability for each lot processed. Because long fibre yield varies from batch to batch, buyers look for consistent data across multiple delivery dates before signing long term supply agreements. Low results usually suggest either poor harvesting technique or over processing in the mechanical phase.
Tracking these numbers provides the operational team with the data needed to calibrate future machine settings.
