Making oilseed rape profitable. Richie Hackett Oak Park

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1 Making oilseed rape profitable Richie Hackett Oak Park

2 Why oilseed rape? Oilseed rape a profitable crop in itself at current prices Also benefits succeeding crop Allows control of grassweeds Can be beneficial to soil structure Uses same equipment as cereals

3 OSR is profitable at current prices W Wheat S barley WOSR Total variable cost ( /ha) Yield (t/ha) Price ( /t) Gross margin ( /ha)

4 OSR requires management High yields required for high profits Target yield of 5 t/ha (2 t/ac) For many OSR is a new crop Requires careful management from sowing to harvest for high yields

5 Establishing correct crop structure important Yield not formed until after flowering Pre-flowering objective = set up optimum crop structure Sowing date Seed rate Nutrition Disease control (Growth regulation)

6 The highest yields come from moderate sized crops -GAI 3.5 High Mowthorpe June 07

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8 Decisions before planting as important as crop management Field choice Soil type Years since last OSR Sowing date Seed rate

9 Effect of rotation Yield (t/ha) st OSR OSR/WW/WW/OSR WW/OSR/WW/OSR Continuous OSR Source HGCA/Morley

10 Sowing date Optimum- late August/ early September Earlier leads to forward crops over winter Greater disease risk Less slug/pigeon problems? Later leads to Slower establishment greater risk of poor stands Greater risk of slug/pigeon damage?

11 Seed rates for winter OSR Yield (t/ha) Castille Excalibur Winner Castille Excalibur Winner Seed rate (seeds/m 2 ) Seed rate (seeds/m 2 ) No advantage of hybrid at low seedrate (Early Sept sowing) seeds/m 2 in good conditions ( kg/ha) Increase rate if poor seedbed, high slug risk, or sowing late

12 Broadleaved Weed control Pre-emergence preferable (where possible) Better control of cleavers, poppies, shepherds purse Options Metazachlor (Butisan S, Katamaran, Rapport 500 SC) Within 48 hrs of sowing but not if Heavy rain forecast Seed not covered Cloddy seedbed Light soils

13 Post emergence weed control Metazachlor early post emergence - Crop at fully expanded cotyledon stage - Propyzamide products - Kerb Flo, Turbo Flo, Croplink Propyzamide, Relva - Crop with 3 true leaves (Oct-Jan) - Narrow broadleaved spectrum, good on grasses, vol. cereals - Clopyralid products - Croplink Clopyralid, Whelehan Shield - Limited weed spectrum

14 Grass weeds (incl. cereals) Can be very damaging to yield If high populations early control essential Options Specific graminicides (Aramo, Falcon, Fusilade Max, Pilot Ultra, Stratos Ultra, Talon) Propyzamide products (timing may be late for high populations)

15 Pests Slugs Monitor before sowing and apply slug pellets if numbers high Use higher seeding rate? Don t wait for bare patches! Cabbage Stem Flea beetle Normally controlled by insecticide on seed

16 Disease control Diseases Phoma Light leaf spot Sclerotinia Alternaria Clubroot Increased area of rape likely to lead to higher incidence of Phoma + LLS

17 Phoma Stem Canker

18 Key Factors phoma Mainly one year survival on debris Steep gradients (200 m?) Control Bury crop residues Positioning of crops Varieties Early establishment Treat in autumn if 10-20% plant infected, follow up in early spring if threshold reached again

19 Light Leaf Spot Can be confused with scorch damage or frost damage White spore Droplets are telltale sign but are not always present in the field Put leaves in sealed plastic bag at room temp. for 1-2 days for droplets

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21 Key Factors light leaf spot Mainly one year survival on debris Gradients (400 m +?) Control Positioning of crops Bury crop residues Varieties Treat if >25% plants infected

22 What fungicide? Punch C ( l/ha) Proline (0.4 l/ha) Caramba ( l/ha) Folicur (0.5 l/ha) have PGR effect so not on backward crops

23 White leaf spot Can look serious but rarely warrants treatment

24 Fertilisation Ensure adequate P and K Apply P at or before sowing and incorporate at Index 1 or 2 (note Sept 15 cut-off) Fertiliser N generally not required in autumn OSR can use organic manures applied pre-sowing Boron - autumn application only if high risk of deficiency (light soil, recent lime)

25 Summary Preferably sow by early Sept. (mid Sept at latest) Use pre-emerge herbicide where possible Monitor for pests during establishment Monitor for disease during autumn Apply fungicide if disease over thresholds

26 Herbicides approved for OSR Product Name PCS No. Product Name PCS No. Butisan S Aramo Croplink Clopyralid Falcon Croplink Propyzamide Fusilade Max Devrinol Pilot Ultra Katamaran Stratos Ultra Kerb Flo Talon Rapport 500 SC Relva Turbo Flo Whelehan Shield Source: Accessed 2/9/11

27 Fungicides approved for OSR Product Name PCS No. Product Name PCS No. Amistar Microthiol Special Barclay Eyetak Mirage Barclay Eyetak Mystique Bumper Orius 20 EW Caramba Orius P Contrast Proline Croplink Tebuconazole Prosaro CT Punch C Farmco Azoxy Riza Fezan Rovral WG Filan Sanction Folicur 250 EW Sportak 45 EW Galileo Sportak 45 HF Jupital Lyric Warbler Source: Accessed 2/9/11