Secure future of OSR: Advice issued on cabbage stem flea beetle management 

The strategies, compiled by a large consortium of stakeholders passionate about oilseed rape’s future in the UK, are set to reduce the risks associated with growing this important break crop, especially when combined. 

Sacha White, AHDB lead crop protection scientist, said: “The amount of oilseed rape grown in the UK in recent years has fallen sharply, partly due to CSFB pressures. However, the demand for oilseeds remains strong, and the crop provides good market and rotational opportunities. 

“These evidence-based management strategies will reduce the risks associated with the pest and stack the odds in favour of farmers. Most of the strategies focus on decreasing damage during the crop’s critical early growth stages, which requires careful planning ahead of drilling.” 

Top ten CSFB management strategies 

1. Ditch the date: do not stick to traditional calendar dates – sow early or late to avoid the peak migration period (which usually occurs from late-August to mid-September). 
2. Chase perfection at establishment: always wait for adequate moisture (present or forecast) before sowing, use the best seed, promote good seed-to-soil contact, ensure adequate nutrition and select varieties with appropriate vigour for the sow date. 
3. Keep your distance: any distance (space and time) between previous and current crops will improve the chance of success. 
4. Improve larval tolerance: fewer, bigger plants will stand up better to larval attack. 
5. Make use of muck: apply organic materials, which can reduce beetle damage and support crop growth. 
6. Park the pyrethroids: resistance is real, and they can harm beneficial insects. 
7. Create companions: companion cropping (e.g., with oats, buckwheat and berseem clover) and intercropping (e.g., with faba beans) can help shield crops from CSFB. 
8. Build brassica buddies: use sacrificial strips of brassica (e.g., turnip rape) or OSR volunteer trap crops to lure beetles away. 
9. Stir it up post-harvest: lightly cultivate OSR stubble soon after harvest to hit emerging CSFB. 
10. Unlock hidden gems: discover the many other tactics to layer in an integrated approach to suppress the pest. 

The management strategies were identified as part of the OSR Reboot initiative. Led by United Oilseeds, the initiative established a consortium/advocacy group to provide a collaborative path to help UK farmers grow stable and profitable oilseed rape crops.  

To prepare the strategies, the group evaluated the latest evidence, including data generated by AHDB-funded research. 

AHDB confirmed it has also strengthened information on CSFB in its popular encyclopaedia of pests and natural enemies, which covers pest identification, risk factors, life cycle, monitoring, control thresholds, non-chemical control and insecticide-resistance status. 

Read more about the strategies, including details about their implementation, are available on the AHDB website.

Read more arable news.