OSR bounces back, with good yields and fresh optimism
© Tim Scrivener After several challenging oilseed rape (OSR) seasons, early harvest reports suggest the crop is on the road to recovery.
Among the most striking yields was John Thomas’ crop of hybrid Auckland, which averaged 6.2t/ha across 34ha. John reports that one 15ha field averaged 6.6t/ha
“We have only ever hit 5t/ha once before. We normally yield around 4t/ha,” explains John who farms 160ha of arable next to the Bristol Channel, near Barry, South Wales.
See also: Harvest round-up: A season of record-breaking early starts
The difference this season, he says, was the good amount of sunlight, and receiving rain at key moments.
“We have been very lucky. The crop came in between 7-8% moisture on 13 July, but b we had to stop cutting at 4pm due to the moisture dropping down to 5%. So we returned early the next morning to finish.,” he says.
The crop was drilled with a combi drill, following a Simba Express in the second week of September. John applied at total of 150kg N/ha, plus a dose of digestate.
Hampshire farmer Tom Monk of AF Monk Farm Ltd also recorded an impressive yield of 5.8t/ha in one field of Attica.
Tom attributes the uplift in part to avoiding a desiccation spray, a strategy that has delivered results in the past.
“In previous years we’ve seen probably half a tonne uplift by not spraying the crop off, which has helped push our yield further this year,” he says.
Andrew Pearcy of North Yorkshire, is seeing similarly encouraging returns. “We’re looking at about 5t/ha, which I’m very happy with.”
Despite concerns over the dry spring, Andrew reports the crop remained healthy. “I think the only significant rain we had was about 10-11mm in a four-month period,” he notes.
His OSR was sown in early August with buckwheat.
Almost all early yield reports from United Oilseeds growers are showing an uplift compared with last year, thanks to better establishment conditions, lower cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) pressure, and renewed confidence in the crop.
Strong returns and a profitable outlook
With OSR prices remaining stable over the past 12 months, this season’s combination of solid returns and improved yields is positioning oilseed rape as the most profitable break crop.
According to the latest Bayer/Dekalb OSR benchmarking survey, 83% of crops were successfully taken through to harvest this year, up from just 73% last season, while CSFB numbers have fallen to their lowest point in six years.
As growers plan for the season ahead, the outlook for oilseed rape continues to improve.
Strong domestic demand, a liquid and accessible market, and renewed confidence in crop performance are all reinforcing its place in the rotation.
Partnerships
As part of the OSR Reboot campaign over the past year, United Oilseeds, the AHDB, and a wider group of industry partners have worked collaboratively to rebuild grower confidence and address CSFB pressure head-on.
A key part of this work was the National Stem Larvae Survey, conducted by Niab earlier this year, which has provided vital insights into lower CSFB larvae burdens, the impact across different regions and how this translates into renewed positivity for the new OSR season.
One of the key outputs of the Reboot has been the 10 shared strategies for OSR success, a practical guide that covers every stage of crop management.
A particular focus is placed on cultural controls, with an emphasis on effective post-harvest cultivation to disrupt the CSFB lifecycle, sowing into moisture where possible creating a fine, firm seedbed, and consolidating sowing with rolling, ideally rolling twice where conditions allow.
