Oilseed Rape News

It may have been eclipsed by cabbage stem flea beetle concerns of late, but minimising the significant threat posed by verticillium alongside phoma and light leaf spot remains very much on the agenda for those keen to improve the reliability of UK oilseed rape production.

As wet and cold weather continues to challenge growers over winter, boron deficiency could pose a significant threat to the promising oilseed rape (OSR) crops this spring.

The first ever winter oilseed rape variety with a claim for tolerance to the stem disease sclerotinia has been launched by Pioneer, the seed brand of Corteva Agriscience.

A cross-industry taskforce is calling for UK oilseed rape growers to join an ambitious on-farm monitoring and trials programme in the war against cabbage stem flea beetle.

David Bouch, Hutchinsons National Seeds Manager, provides his thoughts on spring 2021 and recommendations for spring seed varieties.

Launched on 30th November 2020, AHDB’s online edition of the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) 2021/22 features major changes to wheat rust disease-resistance ratings. Rachel Hicks reports.

Analysis sheds light on last season’s winter OSR, which was the lowest-yielding harvest since 2001.

Oilseed rape growers are being encouraged to follow water stewardship best practice as the key period for controlling blackgrass begins across the UK.

AHDB’s light leaf spot preliminary forecast shows that the disease risk to winter oilseed rape (OSR) ranks among the lowest recorded in recent years.

Oilseed rape growers across the country are finding this autumn a welcome relief from the disastrous start so many of their crops had with the combination of last season’s dry September and intense cabbage stem flea beetle pressure.

Oilseed rape growers and agronomists can now calculate the optimum timing to target cabbage stem flea beetle larvae hatch, with the chance to limit stem infestation.

Some winter oilseed rape may already have 10% of the crop showing phoma symptoms and may need treating, according to AHDB’s forecast for the disease.