Oilseed Rape

As more and more combines are now out on fields, Farmers Guide asked farmers from around the UK for another harvest update.

As more and more farmers have started this year’s harvest, Farmers Guide issues the latest update from around the country. 

Choosing to grow a variety with built-in pod shatter resistance is one of the most important things farmers can do to protect OSR yields through to harvest and make the margins to keep oilseed rape profitable, said Limagrain’s expert. 

Farmers from around the UK and Ireland have been making a start on harvest 2024. Here are some insights from Farmers Guide readers. 

James Peck of P.X. Farms, Cambridgeshire, is one of the first UK farmers to start harvesting oilseed rape.

Following a difficult winter, many growers will be relying on spring crops to deliver farm profits. For those drilling spring oilseed rape, getting the crops established and away quickly will be key to productivity. David McLellan, agronomist at Omya UK, says there are some quick wins growers can take advantage of.

At a technical webinar held by LS Plant Breeding Ltd (LSPB) at the end of December, managing director Chris Guest discussed the challenges for OSR in the UK in a changing climate.

For the second year running, plant breeder Limagrain’s winter wheat LG Beowulf and winter barley LG Caravelle, are the highest yielding varieties to join the 2024/25 AHDB Recommended List.

AHDB has launched the online edition of the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) 2024/25, which is “leaner and meaner” than previous years.

With a challenging autumn for oilseed rape (OSR) establishment so far, looking after and maintaining the momentum of crops that have made it through becomes increasingly important, experts say.

The answer is yes! The oilseed rape drilling window is far wider than often thought. Although most crops are drilled in the first two weeks of August, it is possible to drill into September and still get a good crop established, says leading plant breeders Limagrain UK.

Murray winter oilseed rape was newly added to the AHDB Recommended List (RL) last autumn and went straight to the top of the East/West Region Only table. LS Plant Breeding are receiving positive reports from merchants and growers alike.