Warm soils and rain create late OSR drilling opportunity

As one of the earliest harvests on record wraps up across the UK, recent rainfall has finally brought much-needed moisture to seedbeds, creating an opportunity for growers looking to establish oilseed rape.

While drilling is later than many had hoped, growers are being encouraged to focus on conditions rather than the calendar.

The advice comes from Florentina Petrescu, oilseed rape product manager for Limagrain Field Seeds UK, who says the moisture has created an opportunity to establish oilseed rape into much better conditions than we were seeing just a few weeks ago.

Florentina Petrescu, Oilseed Rape Product Manager at Limagrain Field Seeds UK © Limagrain Field Seeds UK

Successful germination depends on sufficient soil moisture, not only to initiate germination but also to sustain crop emergence.

“How often have we seen seed that has started to germinate, only for it to wither away through lack of soil moisture before completing emergence?” says Florentina.

“This shows how sufficient moisture is needed in the soil to start the process, and then more rain following drilling, to ensure there is enough moisture for the crop to emerge.”

Wait for conditions, not the calendar

Her advice is to be guided by seedbed conditions rather than the date on the calendar.

“With rainfall arriving later than many growers would have liked, some may be concerned that drilling opportunities are beginning to slip away.

“However, delayed drilling does not necessarily mean compromised yield potential”, she says.

“It is possible to get good yields from later-drilled oilseed rape when it is sown into the right conditions. In fact, later-sown crops can often outperform some earlier-drilled crops.

“Hybrid varieties also have better vigour, contributing to faster emergence and greater early biomass accumulation, resulting in rapid crop establishment.”

She points out that crops drilled in mid-September in the Lincolnshire Wolds achieve yields of over 6t/ha, demonstrating the yield potential of crops drilled into September when conditions are right.

“Where moisture has returned and seedbeds are in good condition, growers should feel confident about drilling.

“Soil temperatures remain warm, which can help drive rapid emergence and early growth.”

Rutland grower sees rewards from patience

That principle of waiting for the right conditions has been borne out for Rutland grower Sarah Bell, whose 17ha crop of LG Armada delivered exceptional results after being drilled into a firm, moist seedbed following timely rainfall in late July and early August.

The crop yielded strongly at 10% moisture, fully justifying the decision to grow it.

Sarah Bell in her oilseeds crop of Lg Armada © Limagrain Field Seeds UK

“It is a strategic decision to grow oilseed rape, based on a risk-versus-reward calculation,” says Sarah. “This year it has certainly paid off.

“I like the Limagrain varieties because of the genetic resilience that’s been bred into them.

“Good disease resistance, strong vigour and good rooting are all traits that help tip the balance in the grower’s favour, so they are an important part of the decision-making process.”

On Sarah’s mixed farm, which runs suckler cows and sheep alongside arable crops, soils benefit from regular applications of farmyard manure and the field chosen for oilseed rape was in a favourable condition.

“This was a relatively light, but well-bodied site,” she explains. “Spring barley preceded the oilseed rape, and there was plenty of moisture for drilling.

“We used berseem clover as a companion crop and, crucially, the rape was up and out of the ground very quickly.”

The crop received autumn and spring fertiliser applications alongside early grassweed control, while fungicide use remained minimal in what proved to be a low disease-pressure season.

© Limagrain Field Seeds UK

Moisture and warm soils create opportunity

“Our rainfall from April through to June was around 25% less than our average, and what we did have came in two heavy bursts,” Sarah adds.

“The fact that the oilseed rape did so well is testament to the strength of its rooting, and the long dry spells kept fungal disease at bay.

“By harvest, in mid-July, the crop was seven feet tall, with stems as thick as my thumb. It has really shown what can be achieved when conditions allow full genetic potential to be realised.”

Conditions will again determine whether winter oilseed rape goes into Sarah’s rotation for 2027, but she is confident that where recent rainfall has improved seedbed moisture, growers still have every opportunity to establish a successful crop.

Combined with warm soil temperatures and modern varieties offering strong vigour, the foundations remain in place for good establishment and strong yields.