Oilseed evening

If oilseed rape is to form a corner stone in the evolving energy supply chain we must first grow it and then process it. This was the premise behind Biogreen Energy Products Ltd field evening last week to discuss the growing of the crop and the various techniques for planting, harvesting etc.

Biogreen is perhaps better known to most as the group of farmers in Wexford who installed an oilseed crushing plant last year to produce oil for use in modified diesel engines. Since the beginning this group has been heavily involved in promoting the concept and in encouraging the production of the crop. The field evening sought to share the experiences of growers and bring knowledge to the party from Glanbia's Bob Howlett.

Judging by the attendance there is a large interest in the whole concept. There were farmers at the crop walk in Wexford from as far afield as Cork, Limerick and Donegal. All those present expressed an interest in either the bioenergy concept or producing the crop or both.

Biogreen Energy Products Ltd is a company set up by growers to crush oilseed rape with the stated purpose of producing oil for fuel. Up to now the quantities involved were relatively small but there seems to have been a considerably increase in interest and acreage this year. Production of oilseed rape oil, or Rapoleum as the company chooses to call it, involves the cold pressing of oilseed dried down to 6-8 per cent moisture.

The low moisture is predominantly required to improve the integrity and longevity of the resultant high protein cake, which forms part of the valuable output from the process. After crushing the oil is scrubbed and filtered to bring it up an accepted standard for to use in engines.

The crops

Winter oilseed rape also seems to have benefited from the 'good year' with crops looking well and quite clean. We visited two crops of winter rape on Anthony Browne's farm and these two varieties looked quite different. The first was a crop of "Pollen" from Ebbage Seeds in the UK. This is said to be a high oil variety that seems to have one very useful characteristic from a grower's perspective - the pigeons didn't touch it despite grazing a neighbouring crop to the clay.

This crop had been established by min-till on 10 September. Seeding rate was 5.5 kg/ha and it got three bags of 18:6:12 per acre before sowing. Draza was applied just before emergence. On 18 February it was sprayed with Fortrol

(1.0 l/ha), Falcon (0.5 l/ha), Axis (1.0 l/ha) and Folicur

(0.5 l/ha). Since then it received three bags of SulCAN per acre followed by just under three bags of CAN. And in early May it was sprayed with Solubor

(3.0 kg/ha) and Fastac (0.2 l/ ha).

This variety is clean, weed control is good and it looks quite short for winter rape.

The second crop was sown to the variety Winner. Management was basically the same but the crop was much taller and weed control was less satisfactory. The suggestion was made that this crop was sprayed early in the morning when dew was still present and that this may have affected the activity of the Fortrol in particular.

We then went on to see a crop of Liaison spring rape. This crop was sown after the plough following beet and a quick look showed the consequence of the dry spring across the south east. Establishment was patchy and streaky in places due to lack of moisture. This field emphasised the golden rule of always having to roll rape post planting - this field had not been rolled.

New seedlings were now emerging following the recent rain. It is difficult to know whether this is a blessing or a curse as there will now be two crops in the same field for management. The plants that emerged on time are now at the flower bud stage and are already crawling with pollen beetles. These will now have to be controlled in all crops as they can do very serious damage. With such uneven establishment it is possible that this crop might require a second spray for pollen beetle as these could serious affect the second phase of germinated plants.

Farmed energy

There is little doubt in my mind but that bioenergy must become part of our future. This will not just be wind or wave or other harnessed forms of natural energy but will also involve land based energy crops. Oilseed rape is one of these but all crops can be used to produce different forms of energy. And as oil prices edge upwards the raw economics of these options improve.

Crops like grass, grain, potatoes and beet can act as raw materials for different forms of energy but may be most suited to ethanol production. Crop by products will also feature. Much is made of the options for forest by-products to be burned directly for heat production or processed and pelleted to provide a convenience fuel option for units as small as home burners. And now the option is emerging to make synthetic diesel from wood or wood waste.

I spoke to a lady from Denmark recently who was selling wheaten straw to a local district heating system. The price was €80 per tonne delivered - makes your hair stand doesn't it.

Very shortly afterwards I spoke to an Irish farmer who was looking seriously at the economics of this process. He suggested that it could be worth up to €90 per tonne delivered here in Ireland. Even half this price would be a big price in the market for straw here today. And of course then there is oilseed rape straw and 'failed hay', etc, which have been rather worthless here-to-fore.

Roll on the farm produced energy era but farmers must be very active to make it happen.