A cross-industry taskforce is calling for UK oilseed rape growers to join an ambitious on-farm monitoring and trials programme in the war against cabbage stem flea beetle.

David Bouch, Hutchinsons National Seeds Manager, provides his thoughts on spring 2021 and recommendations for spring seed varieties.

Launched on 30th November 2020, AHDB’s online edition of the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) 2021/22 features major changes to wheat rust disease-resistance ratings. Rachel Hicks reports.

Analysis sheds light on last season’s winter OSR, which was the lowest-yielding harvest since 2001.

Oilseed rape growers are being encouraged to follow water stewardship best practice as the key period for controlling blackgrass begins across the UK.

AHDB’s light leaf spot preliminary forecast shows that the disease risk to winter oilseed rape (OSR) ranks among the lowest recorded in recent years.

Oilseed rape growers across the country are finding this autumn a welcome relief from the disastrous start so many of their crops had with the combination of last season’s dry September and intense cabbage stem flea beetle pressure.

Oilseed rape growers and agronomists can now calculate the optimum timing to target cabbage stem flea beetle larvae hatch, with the chance to limit stem infestation.

Some winter oilseed rape may already have 10% of the crop showing phoma symptoms and may need treating, according to AHDB’s forecast for the disease.

With many new crops of oilseed rape already in the ground and the remainder of a predicted winter crop of just 300,000 ha following close behind, the current focus is on maximising establishment rates and safeguarding the ongoing viability of crops by reducing the competitive pressure of volunteer weeds. ADAMA’s Bill Lankford shares his thoughts on the latest herbicide advice and active ingredient recommendations.

Getting OSR growing and away as soon as possible is vital. The emergence phase is the most vulnerable time for an OSR crop, as this is when it will face the most challenges from pests.

Bayer’s SpotCheck initiative, which helps oilseed rape growers identify light leaf spot (LLS) and other diseases in the crop, will re-open to receive leaf samples from October. The previous season saw epidemic-levels of disease so growers are advised to be alert to early signs of LLS and apply fungicides early.