Oilseed rape growers are optimistic about the crop’s on-farm performance, despite the higher growing costs and market volatility caused by recent world events.

Research carried out by Farmers Weekly in conjunction with agrochemical and seed group Corteva for the third successive year shows confidence in the success of oilseed rape crops is increasing.

See also: Oilseed rape grower cuts back 20% on expensive nitrogen

84% of respondents expect good results from crops drilled this summer and into early autumn. This finding reflects the use of changing growing practices, including wider rotations.

Many growers previously accepted a reduced crop area and more strategic on-farm placement of oilseed rape to avoid high-risk situations.

Having made changes, they are seeing better results and have taken some of the risk out of oilseed rape establishment, leading to greater optimism about the crop.

Drilling date

Flexibility with drilling date has been a key requirement – the past two years saw farmers using earlier July/August sowing dates,.

This summer’s very dry conditions and lack of seed-bed moisture meant more crops were planted in late August (24%) and early September (14%) than in 2021.

Previously considered a high-risk strategy, September drilling increased in autumn 2022 as growers waited for optimum ground conditions before committing to the crop.

The survey results show that matching drilling date to the conditions was one of the top actions growers had taken to ensure success.

The others were making the switch to fast-developing hybrid varieties and widening the rotation.

Break crop

As in our previous surveys, the top reasons for growing oilseed rape are familiar – it is seen by growers as the most profitable break crop, provides a good entry for winter wheat and fits in well with workload pressures.

However, this year’s research results also show the influence of the higher rapeseed price, with almost 60% of survey respondents saying better market prospects were behind their decision to grow the crop for harvest 2023.

With tight oilseed supplies expected to remain while the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, higher prices and greater volatility are anticipated for the foreseeable future by participants.

As a result, about half of the 353 respondents intend to grow the same amount of oilseed rape next year, and see it remaining in their rotations for the next five years – at similar levels to that of this year.

Challenges

The most significant challenge to growing successful oilseed rape crop remains cabbage stem flea beetle, which was mentioned by 56% of growers.

While this has reduced from previous years, the pest continues to cause problems right across the UK, with both establishment and yields affected.

Other pests – notably slugs and pigeons – were also seen as major challenges.

Not surprisingly, higher growing costs were highlighted by 41% of respondents as a challenge, following significant increases in the prices of crop inputs, especially fertiliser.

Of those respondents who revealed they would be growing less oilseed rape this year, higher costs were a primary reason. The others were establishment challenges and flea beetle pressure.

Pesticide use

Oilseed rape crops were sprayed fewer times in 2022 than in previous years, with crops receiving an average of 4.3 treatments a season.

That is down from previous years, reflecting both the drier growing season and the implications of pesticide resistance, lower disease pressure and environmental concerns.

In addition, other techniques are becoming more popular to help overcome pest pressures, with variety choice, drilling date, crop rotation and establishment system all playing a role in reducing the need to spray.

The top two weed pressures were named as blackgrass and volunteer cereals, with charlock just behind.

Changes for 2023

The effect of higher input costs and concern about their availability and supply is seen in the intended actions for this year’s crop.

More than half (52%) of respondents planned to wait until the crop has established before applying any herbicides, to reduce up-front expenditure and keep the risk/reward odds in balance.

In addition, 25% will be investigating other sources of crop nutrition, with the use of either digestate or farmyard manure being planned as a way of reducing their reliance on bagged nitrogen.

Nitrogen use is also under scrutiny, with 21% indicating they will reduce the total amount of nitrogen applied to the crop, in an effort to keep costs in check.

Looking ahead

Effective cabbage stem flea beetle control is at the top of growers’ wishlists when asked about their future requirements for growing good oilseed rape crops.

While they have become more confident in dealing with the pest, it remains their key concern.

More resilient varieties were also requested, as was better genetic resistance against both pests and diseases.

Improved pest and disease forecasting techniques were also considered necessary, with new crop protection solutions seen as desirable.