Resilient OSR hybrids are key to September drilling, expert advises

Sarah Hawthorne, marketing and sales manager at DSV UK, explained that farmers are understandably wary after this last season, but in comparison to a lot of crops, OSR has had a very successful year. 

“Too many farmers are nervous about drilling oilseed rape past August, but DSV trials across multiple sites in Europe have shown yield increases of between 0.5 and 0.8t/ha where OSR was drilled into September compared to earlier sowings. 

“We’ve also seen reports of a record-breaking OSR crop in Lincolnshire this season. At 7.52t/ha, the grower has credited part of his success to drilling a hybrid variety well into September,” she added. 

‘Drilling date alone does not dictate success’

Mrs Hawthorne reiterates that the drilling date alone does not dictate success. Variety choice, seedbed preparation, and plant population can make or break your crop. 

When it comes to variety choice, she said DSV trials and grower experiences show that, with modern hybrids such as Dompteur and Commodore, drilled well into September can not only establish strongly but also go on to yield exceptionally well. 

“Oilseed rape grows from its roots, not its leaves, and the development of a strong tap root in the first 30 days is critical to the crop’s potential,” Mrs Hawthorne explained.  

“If you get the first 30 days right, these hybrids will effectively ‘switch off’ through winter, avoiding over-forward crops, and then restart in spring with real drive. It’s about resilience, not just speed.” 

“Hybrid varieties can also deliver rapid ground cover with a compact growth habit, which helps plants withstand slug attacks,” she continued. 

Additional advice

While variety choice is central, Mrs Hawthorne stresses that attention to soil and seedbed management is equally important. 

Later drilling requires free-draining soils and cultivations that promote deep rooting, with compaction and waterlogging posing the biggest risks to success. 

“DSV rhizotron studies show 50-60% more root mass is present where soils are open and well-structured. Direct drilling is fine, but make sure pans are broken and trash levels are manageable,” she said. 

Finally, plant populations should be kept moderate. “Aim for 25-35 plants per square metre; that’s where we see the best yields.  

“ADAS trials have shown that later drilled crops at this density perform better than high-density stands, even if they only have three or four leaves going into winter,” Mrs Hawthorne concluded. 

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