Farming4profit-UK

2012-03-02T01:42:00.003-08:00

Oilseed Rape Choices Autumn 2012

It has been a long winter –or so it seems, but today at last, the first days of Spring have arrived! Woopee!

That said we need to startplanning for the 2012 / 2013 campaign if only in getting together first ideason varieties. I had the opportunity of attending one of the HGCA OilseedAgronomy Workshops back in January and also had a long conversation with thesoil-borne disease guru of oilseed rape – ADAS Peter Gladders yesterdayspecifically about verticilium wilt and thought I would share some real‘nuggets’ of information with you.

Club Root

I’m sure you are all awarethat once you have clubroot then your days growing oilseed rape have prettymuch ended unless you grow resistant varieties.

Historically clubroot hasbeen pretty much a Scottish issue, but more recently as a steady increase inthe implementation of short rape rotations and the commodity value meaning morerape is being grown on poorer quality land (light and marginal land) then thedisease has increasingly appeared in England too. Most recently clubroot hasbeen found in the Midlands and now in North Norfolk. Equally the intensepressure we are now seeing as a result of close rotational cropping (rape oneyear in two or three relative to soil type and minimal tillage) has meant thatresistant varieties are being exposed to a rapidly evolving disease pathogenwhich through mutation will ultimately overcome the ‘single-gene resistance’ of even themost recently introduced variety Cracker.

That said in the presence ofclubroot and the wish to grow oilseed rape, Cracker remains your bestoption until its ‘multi-gene resistant relative reaches the market – and it’snot far away!. Perhaps more importantly in the interim other breeders will behighlighting the introduction of their latest ‘break-through’ in clubrootresistance, proclaiming – no doubt that they are superior to anything else onthe market (I can be as cynical as the next man!). The likelihood however, will bethat they carry exactly the same resistance gene as Cracker and so willbe equally susceptible to any mutation of the current clubroot pathogen.

It remains critical to thelongevity of Cracker within the market (and indeed any other variety carrying a single-gene resistance to any disease) that this variety is ONLY grownwhere the disease (in this instance clubroot) is already in existence. In Scotland 2011, Crackerout-yielded even conventional varieties and as such many farmers may havebought it and drilled it without clubroot being present (that is only conjecture onmy part, but seems likely to me). They won’t be doing Cracker's resistance to clubroot anyfavours.

Anyone who has identifiedclubroot on their farm and has not as yet tried Cracker, please do ringme as I have stocks available for this autumn. With a light leaf spot score of‘9’ It sits fully recommended on the HGCA RL for 2012/13 and is unsurpassed inits field.

Verticilium Wilt

As part of a continuedassessment of Verticilium wilt (VW) in the UK and its current impact on oilseedrape yields, Peter Gladders ADAS has a trial site containing 34 varieties(relative to which breeders are funding the trial) at Hacconby in theLincolnshire fen - a site that is heavily infected and was the first indicationin the UK three years ago that VW could be devastating in oilseed rape. It isHutchinson managed and purely funded by breeders. Peter’s ‘ brief’ is to bringawareness to the farming community to the potential severity of VW and to giveimpartial judgement on the disease etc. If you get an opportunity to visit thesite I would recommend that you take it as unless you are on a 1 in 5 raperotation, are on good deep-rooting land such as fen soils, with yield potentialhitting 7 or 8 tonnes per hectare, there is the likelihood that VW will have animpact in some way on your land.

Note despite the potentialdamage VW could do to the national rape crop, funding is very poor and Petercan only afford one trial site per year. He told me yesterday of thereservations he has on the 2012 site -

1. Lincolnshire fen as a location is not going tostress the crop too much, the roots will be sitting in moisture and fields havethe ability to yield up to 8t/ha so verticilium wilt is unlikely to cause anyserious measurable degree of yield loss even if present.
2. The plots are under an intensive managementregime by Hutchinsons so again, stressed plants are unlikely.

Peter Gladders is the first to admit that one trial a year is not enough tothoroughly monitor or research this disease as there are many unansweredquestions and its possible that the Germans or French are further ahead intheir research than we are – I hope to visit the German breeder responsible forCracker, Thorin and the new-comer Avatar later this month so will ask thequestion.

Points mentioned in our conversation:
1.      Excalibur is a major problem. It 'bulksup' the disease quicker than any other variety. As the most widely grownvariety nationally, the likelihood that it is harbouring the pathogen tofurther infect neighbouring crops seems most likely, Castille isn’t muchbetter, but is less grown these days.
2.      The strain of verticilium wilt appears to be ahybrid, originating from a broad spectrum form to one specific to crucifers.That said while it is hosted predominantly by brassicas there is evidence tosuggest that it may be harboured by mayweed and even possibly wheat!
3.      Verticilium presence tends to be an expressionof plant stress so where no stress exists the pathogen is unlikely to do muchharm - hence the issues Peter has with the Hacconby site this year.
4.      There is often other problems before VWfinishes off the plant. Castille for example was severely affected by itlast year, but on further examination the variety had been suffering with amajor stem canker infection initially.
5.      It's easy to find extremes of the disease in astressful year, but many of the big hybrid and big canopy varieties canwithstand its presence – PR46W21 in particular, DK Cabernet andSesame.

Considering the above there is clearly a question mark over point 1. How comeif Excalibur is a major carrier did it clearly perform so well ongrower’s farms last year? I guess it’s a warning note that we would be foolishnot to register. If you are on a short rotation, minimal cultivate or marginalrape-growing land, don’t over-do the Excalibur area, or place your Excaliburcrop well away from your other rape. The other thought may be that Excalibur’searliness to harvest means that it has produced its seed and oils before the WVcan cause major damage. If the latter is the case then this is excellent newsfor AVATAR which is an ‘early to harvest’ variety too. But if that werethe only varietal issue, then Cabernet and Sesame should be farworse than Excalibur for reduced yield effect in the presence of VW andthis is not the case!

The other ‘nugget’ ofinformation to me is that there is some negative correlation to wheat.

In the short term the warningis clear – avoid any highlysusceptible variety (Excalibur principally) in a short rotation situation in the presence of wheat(wheat/rape/wheat or wheat, wheat, rape, wheat). If on a min-till situationreview your pre-cultivation techniques for more marginal soils, perhapsreintroducing ploughing. View Peter Gladder's HGCA presentation http://www.hgca.com/content.output/5997/5997/Events/Past%20Event%20Papers/Agronomy%20Workshop%20Newmarket.mspx

It would appear as with manysoil-borne diseases there are many factors that interact to impact on yieldloss and the mere presence of one or two of those factors does not necessarilymean that even in the presence of the disease yield will be affected. That saidif by variety selection and careful field matching incidence of the disease canbe reduced without impacting on potential yield then that has to be the wayforward.

I have access to most rape varieties for sale this autumn and as with Thorinsemi dwarf last year I have personal responsibility for a number of AVATARtrial crops situated around the UK. You can watch AVATAR developyourself at www.watchitgrow.co.uk Thebreeder is having a few teething troubles up-loading the latest pictures but itwill be sorted soon. Please feel free to contact me for a chat at yourconvenience. I hope to meet many current and new members in the course of thespring summer when we can review your particular situation. Any feedback youcan offer from your own experiences or observations I would be delighted toreceive.

Contact me by email at info@farming4profit.co.uk

StuartCree

2012-02-13T03:10:00.000-08:00

Spring Linseed Update:

The spring linseed market is currently over supplied and thus merchants on the whole are offering relatively modest terms for new crop - especially Brown linseed as it has an industrial and animal feed use only. Yellow linseed is destined for human consumption and is not widely grown throughout Europe. Quality standards are tougher and yield poorer. Fixed contracts are available for this type, but you can imagine due to excessive demand, fixed contracts hardly 'sparkle'.

There is however light at the tunnel end - one company with a significant feed end use continue to offer BROWN linseed contracts. Fixed price in part and better than average quality standards, being on the whole more achievable and thus more likely that contract values are maintained, right down to the day the cheque arrives in the post. Deliveries occur on a load by load basis rather than by the boat load, thus enabling farms to be cleared at short notice where necessary. Some domestic use also achievable.

New terms:

50% of the contract price: a minimum £350 - maximum £400/t (linseed market crushing price).
50% of the contract price: ex farm crushing price oilseed rape (relative to HGCA delivered) + premium of 15% (worth circa £400/t at current crushing values). Note there is no direct relationship between linseed values and oilseed rape. Contract is for produce from area sown, not specific tonnage.

Quality Standards:
Moisture: Basis 9%, max 10% though end user flexible up to 10.5%
Admixture: Basis 2%, max 4% though end user flexible up to 5%
Oil: min 38%, min. 54% ALA
Growers must be members of an Assurance Scheme

Buy back contracts subject to availability. Seed available for three varieties. Specific to crops in England up to South of York and excludes Cornwall, all other areas by special agreement (due to haulage distances).

To take up this opportunity email your enquiry to info@farming4profit.co.uk or telephone Stuart on 07968 309123.

Combinable Cropping Opportunities February 2012

2012-02-06T06:13:00.000-08:00

More detail available at info@farming4profit.co.uk

Spring Wheat - ZIRCON White Wheat - £25/t over Feed Wheat - minimum 130 hagberg, Zero Protein. Minimum 225 Hagberg, 11% Protein = £30/t premium. HGCA RL 2012.

Spring OSR - £460/t fixed Price HEAR oilseed rape. 'Act of God' contract with no tonnage commitment required. 50 metre isolation required from any other spring rape crop. Storage not required. Merchant will store on grower's behalf, though charges may apply.

Spring OSR - Hybrid Spring OSR seed production - gross margin opportunity in region of £1200/ha after costs. Virgin or ten year clear land required.

White & Red Millet - ideal for very light land, sandy soils or soils with minimal organic %. Low input, minimal nitrogen requirement. Remarkable crop for marginal or out-lying locations where distant tractor-work would otherwise be required. Values of £300/t available.

White GREGOR Peas - market opportunity of £35/t over feed peas 2012 harvest. NO BLEACHING CLAUSE. Highest yielding variety on PGRO list. 10% to 28% higher yielding than marrowfat varieties.

Brown Linseed - two varieties - 3 way split contract - fixed price (£340) / premium over osr crushing (£25)/ market price (anticipated at £320+/-)

It is generally recognised that there is minimal spring cropping land available and while some drills were seen first week February these were likely to be planting the remnants of winter wheat seed before growers close cereal plantings and move on to root and pulse planting mid March onwards. Conversely on the lighter soils some spring barley drilling may have already taken place mid December, with minimal activity since. The colder sandy soils will require a degree of warmth before growers re-start drilling barley, peas and other crops not being sown before soil temperatures really improve late February / early March.

Spring Crop Options January 2012

2012-01-06T05:58:00.000-08:00

Growers wanted for the following:

White Peas - up to £35/t premium over feed peas - NO BLEACHING CLAUSES - variety GREGOR (highest yielding of PGRO Recommended list 2012) England only.
Spring Rape - if you have virgin or ten years clear land and 300 metres isolation from other rape - CONTACT ME ASAP - significant gross output opportunity - in excess of £1200 gross margin / ha possible. 5 to 50 has per farm sought. Five year requirement. Produce to be exported off farm by November.
No virgin land? Spring rape - £460/t fixed price. Crop off farm by December.
White Millet - bred and selected for UK conditions. Ideal for very light land looking for a break - talk to me - rabbit and pigeon proof (but not north of humber). £600 gross margin plus.
Lupins - GM-free home grown protein for dairy farming, or crop contract
UK GM-free soya - crop contract
Spring cereals - oats, wheat, barley - if you have the land I have the profit opportunity!