Oilseed rape
Make the most of early drilling A
new 20-page guide aims to help rape growers make the most of early August drilling.
The booklet provides a wealth of practical advice for early drillers along- side the most important establishment essentials. Produced by Bayer and Opi- co, it includes advice from ADAS, NIAB and Wright Solutions. Sowing in the fi rst two weeks of
August has been invaluable in allow- ing many crops to survive cabbage stem fl ea beetle. But it brings with it a number of challenges that must be addressed to make the most of this op- portunity.
Chief among these is the danger of
increased fl ea beetle larvae in spring. While reducing the pressure from pho- ma, earlier drilling is also recognised as adding to risks from light leaf spot, clubroot – and possibly also verticilli- um and turnip yellows virus.
Agronomic pressure At the same time, the guide points to the increased agronomic pressure pre- sented by overly-large canopies suscep- tible to pre-mature stem extension in mild winters and serious damage from frost and snow if it turn colds. Higher lodging risk is highlighted as a particular consideration too; es- pecially where a combination of high- er seed rates and better establishment results in dense stands of thinner- stemmed plants. In addition, of course, sowing in
early August means very little time from harvesting the previous crop. This has implications for previous cropping, straw management, grass weed con- trol and correcting any soil structur- al problems. Machinery and workload issues at the peak of cereal harvest for most growers cannot been ignored either –
especially at a time when good farm la- bour is hard to come by in many areas. To make the most of the valuable op- portunities earlier drilling brings while avoiding its main pitfalls, the Guide to Early OSR Drilling identifi es a number of important rotational, varietal, ma- chinery and management priorities in easy-to-read section.
Rotational priorities
Oilseed rape should never be sown if there is insuffi cient moisture in the seeding zone or soil structure is com- promised, says the guide.
Soil structural issues need to be cor-
rected ahead of the crop in the rotation wherever possible, and ground with a history of clubroot problems should be avoided. Winter barley offers the best entry, with winter oats, winter wheat and spring barley also suitable providing their maturity is not delayed by genet- ics or management. Leaving long cereal stubbles will ensure the most rapid combining and effective straw chopping and spread- ing while providing OSR with a good micro-climate for establishment. Sowing with companion crops can
Early drilling can combat fl ea beetle – but brings other risks
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20 MIDLAND FARMER • JULY 2021
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