After several challenging seasons, early harvest reports suggest oilseed rape is firmly on the road to recovery with some growers already nudging 6 tonnes per hectare.
Not only are yields up, but harvest has also come noticeably earlier this year in many areas providing a further boost for growers keen to get crops cleared and ground prepared in good time for autumn drilling.
Hampshire Farm recording 5.8t/ha
Among the most striking early results is from Tom Monk of AF Monk (Rookley) Farm Ltd in Hampshire, who’s recorded an impressive 5.8t/ha in one field of Attica OSR. “We’re extremely pleased with the results so far, particularly in this one field which has an exceptional yield,” he says.
Tom attributes the uplift in part to avoiding a desiccation spray, a strategy that has delivered results in the past. “We applied sludge before sowing and sowed the OSR with buckwheat. In previous years we’ve seen probably half a tonne uplift by not spraying the crop off, which has helped push our yield further this year.”
A long-term OSR grower, Tom says the crop remains a vital part of his rotation. “Apart from the soil benefits, it really does help spread our workload throughout the season, and with these higher yields, it’s set to do very well for us this year.”
Yields Tracking Ahead Across the UK
Tom’s results are not a one-off. Almost all early yield reports from United Oilseeds growers are showing an uplift compared to last year, thanks to better establishment conditions, lower cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) pressure, and renewed confidence in the crop.
Another long-term OSR grower, Andrew Pearcy of North Yorkshire, is seeing similarly encouraging returns. “We’re looking at around 2 tonnes an acre in old money, so about 5t/ha, which I’m very happy with.”
Despite concerns over the dry spring, Andrew reports that the crop remained healthy. “I think the only significant rain we had was about 10–11mm in a four-month period,” he notes. His OSR, sown in early August with buckwheat and including the dependable variety Acacia, held up well.
“As yet I’ve not seen any cabbage stem flea beetle at all, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed it stays that way!” he adds. Encouraged by strong reports from PI Pinnacle, Andrew has already ordered this standout variety for the new season.
Partnerships, Progress, and Renewed Confidence
As part of the OSR Reboot campaign over the past year, United Oilseeds, the AHDB, and a wider group of industry partners have worked collaboratively to rebuild grower confidence and address CSFB pressure head-on. A key part of this work was the National Stem Larvae Survey, conducted by NIAB earlier this year, which has provided vital insights into lower CSFB larvae burdens, the impact across different regions and how this translates into renewed positivity for the new OSR season.
One of the key outputs of the Reboot has been the 10 shared strategies for OSR success, a practical guide that covers every stage of crop management. A particular focus is placed on cultural controls, with an emphasis on effective post-harvest cultivation to disrupt the CSFB lifecycle, sowing into moisture where possible creating a fine, firm seedbed, and consolidating sowing with rolling, ideally rolling twice where conditions allow.
Strong Returns and a Profitable Outlook
With OSR prices remaining stable over the past 12 months, this season’s combination of solid returns and improved yields is positioning oilseed rape not only as the most profitable break crop, but in some cases, as the most profitable crop overall.
According to the latest Bayer/Dekalb OSR benchmarking survey, 83% of crops were successfully taken through to harvest this year, up from just 73% last season, while CSFB numbers have fallen to their lowest point in six years.
As growers plan for the season ahead, the outlook for oilseed rape continues to improve. Strong domestic demand, a liquid and accessible market, and renewed confidence in crop performance are all reinforcing its place in the rotation. With CSFB pressure at its lowest in six years and crop success rates rising sharply, the case for OSR is not only recovering, it's gaining real momentum.
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Image courtesy of David White.