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Know How / Oilseed rape / Variety selection

With so many oilseed rape varieties being marketed, some of which have specific recommendations or specialist end uses, most growers want high gross output with good resistance to disease and lodging. Discover which varieties are performing well in your region, as well as the latest advice on how to grow them.

Case studies

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ESTABLISHMENT

Late-drilled oilseed rape escapes high flea beetle pressure 

Hampshire oilseed rape grower David Northway is drilling his crop later than many in September and seeing yields touch 4t/ha with no crop failures from pest attacks in the past…

OILSEED RAPE

Derby OSR grower attracted to Hear varieties by premium

Robert Holmes has turned to growing high erucic acid rapeseed (Hear) on his Derbyshire farm, encouraged by a healthy price premium and its easiness to grow, while he has just…

OILSEED RAPE

Variety blends: Do they work in oilseed rape?

Could growing more than one oilseed rape variety in the same field help to lower the crop’s risk and build in some much-needed resilience? Most farmers have nothing to lose…

OILSEED RAPE

Essex grower sees cost savings with disease-tolerant OSR

Alex Jessop-Gaymer is looking to grow a larger area of a new sclerotinia-tolerant oilseed rape variety next season after it saved him the cost of a flowering fungicide spray this…

OILSEED RAPE

Why Holl oilseed rape is working for winning grower

Lincolnshire grower Mark Stubbs switched to growing high oleic low linoleic (Holl) oilseed rape varieties for the chance to earn a premium price and now sets an ambitious target yield…

JOB PROFILES

Job profile: What’s it like to be a seeds sales manager?

If you have got a passion for crops and want to be on the front line of variety developments then a job as a seed product manager could be the…

Practical advice

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ARABLE

How grower adds flexibility with disease-tolerant OSR

Changing weather patterns and the opportunity to reduce fungicide spray inputs were behind Lincolnshire grower Nick Wright’s decision to grow the sclerotinia-tolerant winter oilseed rape variety PT303. Having once experienced…

OILSEED RAPE

Advice on when to drill next season's oilseed rape crop

Oilseed rape growers are being urged to hold off drilling next season’s crops in this extremely dry summer until there is enough moisture in the soil. Agronomy experts say even…

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…

OILSEED RAPE

Why primed OSR seed could help with crop establishment

A new oilseed rape variety will be available this summer only as primed seed which is aimed at helping with early establishment and coping with early pest attacks and dry…

OILSEED RAPE

Sclerotinia-tolerant OSR set to reduce flowering sprays

Strong demand is expected for the first oilseed rape variety showing sclerotinia disease tolerance, with enough seed available this summer to drill 2.5% of the rapeseed area. The new hybrid…

VARIETY SELECTION

Tips on getting most from clubroot-resistant OSR varieties

Clubroot-resistant OSR varieties are a valuable tool for keeping the crop in the rotation, but growers should also deploy other measures such as liming affected fields. That’s because an over-reliance…

Insights

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HARVEST

Harvest 24: 5 top-yielding winter OSR varieties

Throughout the harvest season, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from the AHDB’s 2024 oilseed rape Recommended List harvest results. Use the map below to find…

VARIETY SELECTION

Round-up of OSR varieties to drill in summer 2024

Growers deciding on oilseed rape varieties for harvest 2025 have several newcomers to consider, as well as some very reliable performers among existing contenders. Three new UK-wide hybrids from Limagrain…

PEST MANAGEMENT

How harvest cultivations can help beat flea beetle in OSR

Shallow cultivations carried out shortly after the combine can help reduce adult flea beetle populations, but more research is needed to refine advice to growers. Speaking at a recent Limagrain…

VARIETY SELECTION

What the 6 additions bring to the new-look OSR Recommended List

The new-look AHDB Recommended List (RL) for oilseed rape welcomes six new varieties, including three top-yielding hybrids from the same breeder and a conventional with substantial yield gains. Limagrain’s trio…

ARABLE

Seed sales show heavy reliance on a limited number of varieties

After a testing season and difficult harvest, growers are sticking to a narrow range of varieties for the new cropping year. Farmers Weekly finds out what’s filling the drills. See…

VARIETY SELECTION

Why OSR vigour and late disease score is key to 2023 yields

Oilseed rape varieties with good early vigour and resistance to late season disease have been the top performers in Agrii’s variety plots in Lincolnshire. Like many areas of the UK,…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Survey gives pointers on how to successfully grow OSR

An average 85% of oilseed rape crops are predicted to reach harvest, but some farmers, especially in East Anglia, are feeling the pain. Although the average is down on last…

OILSEED RAPE

How OSR variety choice helps crops survive flea beetle

Simply selecting the top yielding OSR varieties on the AHDB Recommended List is not always the best approach in high cabbage stem flea beetle areas, according to Agrii trials and…

VARIETY SELECTION

What the new OSR varieties bring to the market

Seven new winter oilseed rape varieties joined the 2023-24 AHDB Recommended List at the end of last year, adding to the choice in all areas of the country. They complete…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

How OSR growers will benefit from two new disease genes

New resistance genes for clubroot and phoma will offer growers better varietal control of these two costly diseases in oilseed rape crops. Both are welcome additions as existing genes have…

Online resources from AHDB

AHDB Recommended List 2024-25 Winter wheat

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AHDB Recommended List 2024-25 Winter barley

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AHDB Recommended List 2024 Spring barley

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AHDB Recommended List 2024-25 Winter oilseed rape

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