Oilseed Rape News

Defra is being urged to ensure the SFI supports farmers in the face of a changing climate, as it develops the next round.

Exactly a decade after breaking the world record OSR yield, Lincolnshire farmer Tim Lamyman has defied the exceptionally dry season to bring in a record-breaking crop.

An early start to harvest and the arrival of some rain mean the OSR sowing season has begun sooner than usual, even considering the historic trend of earlier drilling to establish the crop ahead of cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) attack, according to David Leaper, Agrii seed technical specialist.  

Over the last few years, the upfront costs and establishment challenges have made OSR a risky option, but with recent improvements in pest pressure, genetics, and recent market prices, the picture is starting to shift, arable experts believe. 

Latest resistance testing of samples collected in 2024 across Europe indicates that most grassweeds are largely susceptible to clethodim, a key herbicide for oilseed rape and sugar beet. However, resistance is present in some UK populations.  

NPZ UK breeder trials have highlighted the impact of a challenging season on winter oilseed rape varieties that rely solely on Rlm7 resistance, compared to the latest hybrid varieties featuring combined RlmS and Rlm12 resistance.

A Cotswolds farm manager has explained how data collected from a growing network of digital yellow water traps is helping inform oilseed rape management. 

With pod filling well underway in winter oilseed rape crops, Hutchinsons is reminding growers of the need for accurate desiccation timing to maximise yield and minimise the risk of rejections this harvest.

The 2025 AHDB Planting and Variety Survey, conducted between 7th April and 16th May 2025, has revealed a partial rebound in the UK’s wheat area, offering a glimmer of resilience in an otherwise mixed outlook for UK crop production.

A list of ten top strategies to tackle cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) has just been released to help reverse the fortunes of oilseed rape (OSR). 

Defra’s latest Farm Business Income report predicts which sectors will see a rise or fall in income over 2024/25.

The latest Recommended List that includes an expansive new variety line-up demonstrates the real strength and depth in Elsoms Seeds breeding program, Elsoms head of agriculture Toby Reich said.