Tim O’Donovan of Seedtech has said that you need to have a very good reason not to grow winter oilseed rape on your farm this autumn.

“Any grower who is in winter crops has to consider oilseed rape,” he commented.

“One quarter of Ireland’s sunshine falls in August, September and October. No other crop can absord and use that sunshine only rape,” Tim said.

He continued on to say that the crop will take up soil nitrogen and nitrogen applied through organic manures through the autumn and winter, helping to cut down fertiliser prices.

Light leaf spot

One thing that Tim described to attendees at the recent Seedtech open days was the importance of stem health. He explained that healthy stems are important to fill the seeds of the plant.

He stated that Aurelia has generally clean, green stems at this time of the year. Stems infected with light leaf spot have cigar-shaped lesions.

Tim said those lesions interfere with the movement of food and water in the plant.

“The breeder, Limagrain, has put a lot of emphasis into stem health and that is why we have this high score of eight on the recommended list for Aurelia for light leaf spot,” he commented.