Results from a nationwide cabbage stem flea beetle monitoring project suggest farmers can approach the growing season with renewed confidence.

Assessments of stem larvae levels in the spring of 2025 showed a significant decline in pest pressure compared with previous seasons, according to a project led by Niab and funded by United Oilseeds, Agrii and Hutchinsons.

More than 170 plant samples were collected in mid-February from a geographical spread of the UK, with a large proportion of them showing much lower numbers of larvae than in recent years.

See also: Which IPM options are best to manage cabbage stem flea beetle?

Only isolated farms had higher levels and no hotspots were recorded.

Larvae numbers were higher in areas where they were expected to be, such as Kent, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hampshire, but still lower than in the past.

Cabbage stem flea beetle larvae per plant map © Niab

As Colin Peters, oilseed rape specialist at Niab explains, the findings are very encouraging and also reflect what was seen last autumn, when lower numbers of adult beetles were found following water trap monitoring.

“This is good news, and should give growers some reassurance,” he says.

“They can feel more positive about the prospects for oilseed rape establishment in 2025.”

However, integrated pest management practices will remain important and the crop still requires attention to detail, he adds.

Colin highlights field positioning, immediate post-harvest cultivation of the previous year’s rape stubble, good seed-bed preparation, flexible drilling dates and the use of companion crops as all contributing to success.

“We know moisture conservation is key, whatever seed-bed preparation method is used, and that rolling will help to both retain moisture and reduce slug activity.

“We also know the further the new crop is located from the previous year’s crop, the better.”

In addition, cultivating the previous crop’s stubble straight after harvest will reduce the number of adult beetles emerging from the ground, he says.