Somerset grower Andy Fussell started his oilseed rape harvest on 19 July, cutting the sclerotinia-tolerant variety PT303, which hit 4.8t/ha on the combine yield meter.

The variety was harvested alongside a block of the variety Dazzler which averaged 3.3t/ha and due to the disease-tolerant variety’s significantly higher yield, Mr Fussell is increasing the area grown next season.

Crop quality was good, with moisture coming in at 8%. Combining began early in the morning at about 8:45am, but as temperatures increased throughout the day, Mr Fussell was forced to stop as moisture levels would have suffered in the heat, so he re-started cutting later in the evening.

See also: Video: Welsh oilseed rape harvest yields over 5t/ha

Cold-pressed rapeseed oil

Oilseed rape is a major part of the rotation at Church Farm, near Frome, with up to 300t a year crushed on the farm and processed into cold-pressed rapeseed oil sold under the Fussels brand name.

As public perception of the business is a key priority, selecting new and up-to-date varieties, such as the  PT303 cultivar, is important. This reduces the need to spray the crop, meaning it can be grown more sustainably, which helps promote the brand’s image and saves costs.

The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown brought challenges, as hotels and restaurants shut shop causing oil sales to plummet, but thankfully two supermarket chains kept sales ticking along.

Establishment

Last summer, 47ha of oilseed rape was drilled on August 5 into good soil conditions with no companion crops and rolled twice, which worked well, said Mr Fussell.

This was in stark contrast to the previous season, when 50ha were drilled but only 5ha made it to the combine, as crops were decimated by cabbage stem flea beetle.

“Crop establishment and yield is significantly better this year. There is a quarter less oilseed rape grown in the area, which may have contributed to reduced beetle attacks,” he said.

“We have to stay in oilseed rape as it fits so well with our rotation, and as we have the pressing facilities we’re in it for the long haul. We need to persist and beat the beetles somehow and find new ways of managing the crop,” Mr Fussell added.

The PT303 variety didn’t suffer from flea beetle attacks at all, but Mr Fussell admitted this could be down to a range of factors such as the season or soil type, not just the variety.