Know How / Oilseed rape / Harvest and crop storage

Harvest losses are all too common in oilseed rape, when bad weather and over-ripe crops can cause pods to shatter and seed to shed, regardless of harvesting method. Find out how harvest management can be helped by varietal traits, pod sealants, desiccation and other developments as the combines roll.

Keeping oilseed rape in tip-top condition and preventing spoilage by fungi and mites in store is important for preventing any claims and rejections. Discover how to store your oilseed rape crops safely and effectively, meet food safety legislation and get a glimpse of latest storage innovations.

Must reads

How did harvest go for our Arable Insights farmers?

Advice on reducing harvest losses in oilseed rape

Tips to achieve successful long-term grain storage

Harvest 2023: The 5 top-yielding winter OSR varieties map

Case studies

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HARVEST

Harvest 24: End in sight as farmers make progress in dry spell

As much of the cereal harvest draws to a close thanks to a spell of dry weather, farmers reflect on a difficult season, with many looking ahead to next year…

HARVEST

Harvest highs and lows from Arable Insights farmer panel

After a difficult season, what has the combine delivered for our eight Arable Insights growers? Farmers Weekly caught up with them to see how the harvest has progressed. See also:…

HARVEST

100% success for companion cropped OSR in 12-year rotation

Companion cropping oilseed rape as part of a 12-year rotation resulted in a 100% establishment rate at a farm in Suffolk, with harvest yields just shy of 4t/ha. A total…

HARVEST

How did harvest go for our Arable Insights farmers?

It’s been a difficult stop-start harvest across the country, but how have our regular featured Arable Insights farmer panel fared? See also: Harvest 2023: The 5 top-yielding spring barley varieties…

HARVEST

Harvest 2023: Wheat nearly done but spring barley to cut

Many growers will be finishing their winter wheat harvest this week, and spring barley is not far behind, except in Scotland where mixed weather has held back crop maturity. Somerset…

HARVEST

Harvest 2023: Late-sown OSR surprises in Dorset

Very late drilled oilseed rape came up trumps in Dorset this summer with one crop sown in the last week of September yielding almost 4t/ha, helped by a long crop…

Practical advice

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HARVEST

Advice on reducing harvest losses in oilseed rape

Getting pre-harvest management of OSR crops right is essential for minimising harvest losses, which is not just money down the drain, but creates volunteer problems for years to come. Losses…

HARVEST AND CROP STORAGE

Tips to achieve successful long-term grain storage

There are many factors to take into consideration when storing grain crops for the long term. Getting it wrong means quality will deteriorate, which can lead to significant financial losses.…

HARVEST AND CROP STORAGE

How to dry grain more efficiently in a wet harvest

With showery summers predicted to become more common, now is a good time to appraise grain-drying facilities and reinvest where necessary to help deal with any extreme seasons to come.…

ARABLE

Tips for raising oilseed rape yields

Oilseed rape growers taking part in an Adas-organised yield competition averaged 0.5t/ha more than their counterparts in Germany last season, a country that has historically out-yielded the UK. While the…

OILSEED RAPE

Ways to improve on 2016's poor oilseed rape yields

Oilseed rape growers are being urged to focus on good establishment, adequate nutrition and top-notch disease control to avoid the dismal yields of last summer. Poor weather was the key…

OILSEED RAPE

Hybrid oilseed rape varieties need later desiccation

Oilseed rape desiccation using glyphosate for modern hybrid varieties should be timed later than that used in the past for traditional conventional varieties. Barrie Hunt, Monsanto’s technical specialist for its…

Insights

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Must reads

How did harvest go for our Arable Insights farmers?

Advice on reducing harvest losses in oilseed rape

Tips to achieve successful long-term grain storage

Harvest 2023: The 5 top-yielding winter OSR varieties map

Case studies

Harvest 24: End in sight as farmers make progress in dry spell

Harvest highs and lows from Arable Insights farmer panel

100% success for companion cropped OSR in 12-year rotation

How did harvest go for our Arable Insights farmers?

Harvest 2023: Wheat nearly done but spring barley to cut

Harvest 2023: Late-sown OSR surprises in Dorset

Practical advice

Advice on reducing harvest losses in oilseed rape

Tips to achieve successful long-term grain storage

How to dry grain more efficiently in a wet harvest

Tips for raising oilseed rape yields

Ways to improve on 2016's poor oilseed rape yields

Hybrid oilseed rape varieties need later desiccation

Insights

Harvest 24: 5 top-yielding winter OSR varieties

Harvest 2022: The 5 top-yielding winter OSR varieties map

Should farms sell or chop straw with fertiliser prices high?

Harvest 2021: The 5 top-yielding OSR varieties map

Analysis: Cost of extreme weather on 2020 crop performance

Harvest 2020: The 5 top-yielding OSR varieties map

Harvest verdict: Barley is the winner in mixed season

Harvest 2019: The 5 top-yielding winter oilseed rape varieties

Make the most of your combine’s yield data this harvest

Harvest verdict: OSR the big winner for 2017

Harvest 2017: The 5 top-yielding oilseed rape varieties

How variety choice can help ease the oilseed rape harvest

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