Oilseed rape is still being grown by Lincolnshire farmer Andrew Jackson, but on a smaller scale than before and in a much wider rotation – in keeping with his aim to balance the farm with nature.

As Mr Jackson has moved to regenerative farming practices, he has made considerable changes to his farming system.

These include widening the rotation and diversifying his cropping, so that soil health and function are prioritised.

See also: Oilseed rape makes a return with an early start

As a result, oilseed rape is not the only break crop on the 375ha farm, near Scunthorpe.

He has bought in two-year grass crops for seed production and spring-drilled quinoa, as well as introducing meadowfoam for the first time this year.

To accommodate these changes and manage risk, oilseed rape is now being grown on a one-in-eight basis, with various clover species being added at drilling as a companion crop.

His Horizon drill, with its multiple hoppers, makes that a straightforward one-pass operation, while minimising soil disturbance, keeping wheelings down and reducing fuel use.

Legume as companions

© Anna Rachel Photography

“As part of our overall system, we were advised that we needed a legume in the rotation,” says Mr Jackson. “As oilseed rape doesn’t act as a host for mycorrhizal fungi, it was an opportunity to bring in some legumes as companions.

“They should help keep the soil biology going, as well as provide a rooting and nutrient cycling benefit.”

With no barley grown on the farm and a delayed wheat harvest, this year’s oilseed rape crop wasn’t drilled until 1 September.

It avoided the attention of flea beetle and established well, making the most of the month’s warmer weather and moist soils.

It is growing alongside white, berseem and crimson clover, as well as the ground-hugging trefoil black medic – all of which bring a soil-conditioning benefit and should help to suppress weeds.

“In terms of flea beetle, we haven’t used any insecticides on this farm for five years, so that wasn’t an option,” he adds.

“One application of ferric phosphate-based slug pellets has already been made, in line with threshold guidance.”

Specialist variety premium

Through United Oilseeds, he is growing 33ha of the high oleic, low linoleic (Holl) hybrid variety V367OL, with its specialist oil profile, which goes into a healthier frying oil for McDonald’s restaurants and earns him a premium of £30/t.

“There’s good demand for the end product and the premium will help to cover some of the additional seed cost of hybrids.”

Mr Jackson’s weed control plans for the crop must take account of the clover companions, as some species can be difficult to remove with herbicides, although winter frosts will help.

The goal is to retain the clover and come out the winter with an understorey, working as a living mulch which could be grazed off by sheep after harvest and before the following wheat crop.

Areas with problem weeds will be treated with Belkar (halauxifen + picloram) and Mr Jackson accepts that the clovers will take a hit.

Volunteers will be removed with Falcon (propaquizafop) and Kerb (propyzamide) is planned with timing tocoincide with falling soil temperatures, to take out broad-leaved and grassweeds. As a
fallback Galera (clopyralid + picloram) can be used for persistent weeds in the spring.