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Know How / Oilseed rape / Crop management

Once it’s up and away, oilseed rape needs careful management and the right nutrition throughout the growing season to ensure it fulfills its potential. See what can be done to maximise output, put a lid on growing costs and keep the crop photosynthesising as it reaches maturity and fills its seeds.

Case studies

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CROP MANAGEMENT

Can probability weather forecasting improve farm decisions?

How many times have you consulted multiple weather apps to find a slightly different forecast for your farm? And then chosen the one you like best as the final arbiter…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Regen premium helps West Midlands family battle blackgrass

Regen premiums have given father and son James and Sam Daw the confidence to dedicate one-third of their cropping area to spring crops and tackle a growing grassweed problem. “It…

VARIETY SELECTION

Grower reveals top wheat and OSR contenders for autumn 2026

Bedfordshire-based farms director Andrew Robinson of Heathcote Farms is a dedicated milling wheat grower so finds himself in a good position on variety choice, given the recent Group1 additions. He…

CROP SELECTION

How polycrop is paving way to premium feed market

No field is planted to just one type of crop at Paul Baker’s mixed farm in Devon – instead fields are planted to either polycrops, variety blends or companions. A…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How Lincs grower reclaimed world record oilseed rape yield

Lincolnshire grower Tim Lamyman has reclaimed the world record oilseed rape yield, with a staggering 7.71t/ha crop. The record-breaking yield came during one of the driest growing seasons, where Tim…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Wilts OSR grower reveals lessons from sheep grazing trials

If the timing is right, grazing oilseed rape with sheep in the autumn can improve crop evenness and deliver yield benefits, according to one Wiltshire farmer. At East Farm near…

Practical advice

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PEST MANAGEMENT

Spray or stay in SFI? Aphids force tough choice

Widespread reports of aphids, gout fly and leafhoppers are being spotted in emerging cereal crops, putting immediate pressure on growers to consider insecticide use. Even those who opted for the…

ARABLE

How autumn micronutrients can unlock spring nitrogen savings

Growers are being advised to focus on micronutrient nutrition in oilseed rape crops this autumn, to give them the strongest possible start next spring and potentially unlock nitrogen savings. With…

ARABLE

Tips on tackling this autumn's weed flush in OSR crops

Recent rain in many parts of the UK has provided a welcome boost for newly establishing oilseed rape crops, but it has also sparked a flush of weeds and cereal…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

5 top tips on getting the most from slurry on stubble

The post-harvest period is a crucial time for arable farmers putting nutrients back into soil before incorporating and drilling the next crop. However, applying slurry in hot conditions can reduce…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

7 tips to make fertiliser go further this spring

While many farmers have already purchased fertiliser for this season, there will be some who haven’t been able to do that, whether it’s because of storage restrictions, cashflow or other…

PEST MANAGEMENT

10-point plan to beat flea beetle in oilseed rape

Oilseed rape growers are being urged to follow a 10-point plan to limit damage from cabbage stem flea beetles, with the most important factor being choosing a drilling date. AHDB's…

Insights

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ARABLE

What could the future of crop protection look like?

Biologicals, breeding and better evaluation and co-ordination of multiple farm technologies will be three important building blocks of future crop protection strategies for disease control, as the industry continues its…

OILSEED RAPE

Breeder's tips on managing later drilled OSR crops

Trials carried out by an oilseed rape breeder, as well as a Lincolnshire grower's experience offer some pointers on how best to manage later drilled crops to ensure winter survival…

PEST MANAGEMENT

How research project is set to help slash slug pellet use

A precision slug risk model developed through a £2.6m research project has successfully passed its first on-farm test, despite being deployed during one of the lowest slug pressure seasons in…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Later-drilled winter OSR will need tailored agronomy

Winter oilseed rape growers delaying planting until late August and into September need to adjust their agronomy to compensate for the shortened growing window before winter, says an expert. OSR…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Why grassweed control is vital in oilseed rape crops

Oilseed rape used to be looked upon as a good cleaning crop for grassweeds, but in recent years it has become the weak link in many rotations. A combination of…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Why OSR growers shouldn't discount slugs ahead of drilling

Oilseed rape growers should not be lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to managing slug risk in the coming months, warns one agronomist. Dry conditions through…

PEST MANAGEMENT

How odour, sound and vibrations can control crop pests

Could weaponising odour, sound or microbes found naturally on crop leaves be the solution to some of the toughest pest challenges growers face?  From scent-based repellents that disguise crops from…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How climate change is reshaping agronomy

Evidence from long-term trial data and climate modelling shows that warmer summers, wetter winters and more extreme weather events are affecting yield reliability, disease pressure and pest risk. The key…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

4 new nitrogen management technologies and how they work

Several firms across Europe are developing and launching new technologies for measuring the nitrogen requirements of arable crops. Improving nitrogen use efficiency has both environmental and economic advantages for farmers;…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Tips on cutting through the marketing hype for biostimulants

After a season when crops gave up in the summer drought, farmers may be tempted to try a biostimulant to help crops cope better next time. Some products can deliver…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Why high spring biomass is a key weapon against flea beetle

Oilseed rape growers choosing the right variety and opting to drill the crop slightly later this year could face far fewer problems as the crop develops, and benefit from higher…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Why propyzamide use in OSR and beans remains in the balance

Delivering best practice for successful weed control with propyzamide while preventing it from entering water courses and reservoirs remains a difficult balance. What’s good for weed control frequently increases the…

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