Introduction to oilseed rape: growing challenges and opportunities

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is a member of the Brassicaceae family. Grown mainly for its oil-rich seed, it is the third-largest source of vegetable oil in the world.

Crushing the seeds extracts the oil. Residue produced from the crush, called rapeseed meal, is often used in animal feed. Globally, oilseed rape is the second-largest source of protein meal.

The crop has become an important part of many arable rotations. It is a useful alternative to a cereal crop and often referred to as a ‘break crop’.

In recent years, growing oilseed rape has not been without its challenges and areas of oilseed rape grown had fallen up to 2020, from about 756,000 ha drilled in 2012 to 306,000 ha drilled in 2020.

The loss of neonic insecticides and the challenge of controlling cabbage stem flea beetle, resulted in the drop in area of OSR grown.

An uplift in drillings in autumn 2021 has increased the expected harvest to some 350,000 ha.

With strong economics and establishment strategies, a bounce back is predicted with the drilled area likely to increase further to 450,000 ha drilled in autumn 2022 according to industry forecasts. 

Sources:

• ac.uk – Coverage of oilseed rape across Britain 2015-17. View the graphic here.
• Volume of harvested oilseed rape production in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2003 to 2020. View on Statista here.

Without effective chemical protection, control of cabbage stem flea beetle is difficult. Critically, the pest can destroy a plant’s growing point and cause crop failure.

Adults will eat plants before emergence, destroying the growing point and causing characteristic shot hole symptoms on emerged seedlings with their larvae living and feeding in the stems and petioles of larger plants.

A range of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies are available, including trap crops, sowing rates, use of companion cropping and also considering where fields of oilseed rape volunteers may be present.

Therefore, attention to detail during establishment is essential. 

See the AHDB article “Cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) and its management in oilseed rape”.

There are many agronomy benefits to growing oilseed rape including improvement of soil tilth as well as being an entry crop to a first wheat which can then help to maximise the first wheat yield opportunity.

Oilseed rape is a useful high margin break crop in the rotation, but with current global demand resulting in high prices for seed, oilseed rape has the potential to be a cash crop if it can be established and managed through to harvest.