Mustard could be next hot crop


5 October 2001



Mustard could be next hot crop

By FARMERS WEEKLY staff

ABYSSINIAN mustard could prove to be a useful alternative to industrial spring oilseed rape, says Driffield-based Springdale Crop Synergies.

A spring-sown high erucic acid-producing oil crop, all was cleared by early September and yielded contracted growers an average 2.4t/ha (1t/acre).

“That is equivalent to a good spring oilseed rape crop, but where we wound up the inputs we achieved 26-27cwt/acre (3.3t/ha),” says the groups Clifford Spencer.

When contracts were fixed at 140/t at the start of the year, the price was a substantial premium to oilseed rape, he maintains.

Seed cost, at 47/ha is the main input, insecticide, fungicide and fertiliser requirements being similar or lower than spring oilseed rape.

Provided crush and oil tests later this autumn are successful a substantial increase in crop area is anticipated next spring.

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