April 25, 2025
Winter oilseed rape: worth another look?
With good prices, rotational benefits and fewer flea beetle problems, this season could see the winter oilseed rape area bounce back for 2026.
That is the message from ProCam seed manager, Lee Harker, who foresees up to a 20% climb in winter oilseed rape (WOSR) this autumn, after reduced plantings last season.
This comes on the back of WOSR prices reaching about double those of feed wheat this year, he says, plus WOSR crops generally looking good.
“If harvest goes well, farmers will wish they’d planted more of it,” Lee says. “It’s a great break crop, with the potential to boost first wheat yield, plus an opportunity to target grass weeds with different herbicides.
“Fewer cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) problems this year could also fuel increased interest in growing WOSR. Of course, there’s no guarantee we’ll have low pressure next season, but there are strategies to give crops a better chance against the pest.”
The winter oilseed rape area could climb by about 20% this autumn, suggests Lee Harker.
Hybrid vigour
One historical option was to establish WOSR cheaply, then decide whether to keep it or write it off once known whether it had survived CSFB invasion. However, Lee says cheap WOSR seed is now scarce. So he favours a proactive approach of establishing a more resilient crop from the outset – typically a hybrid – planted either early or late to avoid beetle migration, and sown with a suitable companion crop.
“Early hybrid vigour not only helps to get WOSR established against pigeons and slugs. By five leaves, healthy WOSR with a good root mass and thicker stems can also better tolerate CSFB.
“By drilling in early August or into July if conditions allow, the aim is to get the crop to a healthy five-leaf stage before peak adult CSFB migration, and then give it a better chance against resulting larvae. By planting later, for example well into September depending on location and conditions, you’re aiming to plant after adult migration has finished.
“Of course, whenever you drill, it’s crucial to have sufficient soil moisture and temperature for rapid establishment, and to choose variety characteristics that align with the drilling date.
“For later drilling, early vigour in autumn is essential to get the crop established rapidly. In these situations we favour the vigorous hybrid RGT Blackmoon. For earlier drilling, look for a hybrid that establishes well without growing excessively tall over winter, to protect it from frosts, but then has good spring vigour to help it grow away from larval feeding. Here, we suggest LG Areti.”
Grow a companion crop with WOSR partly as a cabbage stem flea beetle deterrent, says Lee Harker.
Companion cropping
Additionally, Lee urges companion cropping – with the companion seed mix GreenPack Bronze containing fenugreek, which has a garlic-like odour to act as a CSFB deterrent, plus tartaric buckwheat, which grows quickly and shields young WOSR from beetles.
“Ideally, plant the companion crop beforehand so there’s already protection when the WOSR is drilled. However, WOSR and GreenPack Bronze can also be planted together.
“If concerned about erucic acid in WOSR being pushed above the 2% legal limit, due to brassica weeds, OSR volunteers, or volunteer brassicas from previous SFI mixes, consider a Clearfield variety so these weed problems can be targeted with herbicide.
“If worried about clubroot, look for a variety suitable for clubroot-infested land. Clubroot is increasing and variety choice is integral to its management.”
Urea fertiliser reminder
A reminder that all fertilisers containing urea must have a urease inhibitor included when applied from 1 April.
While this currently only applies in England, it is still best agronomic practice. Therefore ProCam urges all urea-based fertiliser users to use an inhibitor after 1 April.
There are many options for solid fertiliser with inhibited urea products. For liquid fertiliser, our product of choice is NitroShield from Omex. This is added to liquid fertiliser at the point of use at a dose of 1.0 litres mixed with every 1m3 (1,000 litres) of Nitroflo fertiliser (rate can be reduced to 0.6 litres/per m3 for Nitroflo 15S).
Liquid fertilisers that are injected into the soil are exempt from requiring an inhibitor. As too are foliar urea products when used for protein enhancement or late flowering on oilseed rape, in accordance with the product recommendations and when using a conventional sprayer nozzle.
