Late flowering rape benefits early Autocast

New later flowering and low biomass oilseed rape varieties are especially well suited to the very low cost Autocast establishment technique, particularly for crops sown early when combining wheat at the beginning of August, according to Cambridgeshire farmer and Autocast inventor, Michael Godfrey.

"Growers should be looking for variety attributes of short straw length, stiff stems and later flowering for the earliest sown crops to avoid problems of excessive early growth, which can still be vigorous in a mild autumn," he advises. "Frost damage during flowering leads to a high proportion blind pod sights affecting yield and even seed maturity; later flowering gives a better pod and seed set."

In the South and Eastern Counties he advocates that Expert would appear a good choice, combining high yield with later flowering; slightly later maturity will have little impact for growers. In the north NKBravour has even better yield and slightly later flowering than Winner, for example, without the risk of maturity delay at harvest.

Paul Hickman of Advanta Seeds, the UK agent for Expert, highlights the variety has performed well when broadcast early into standing wheat, so would anticipate similar good results from early Autocast sowings. "The later flowering of Expert gives better insurance against late spring frosts particularly for the early established crops."

The new Advanta OSR variety, Agalon - a current candidate for the new recommended list - would also appear to be well suited to this technique, being slightly later and even shorter than Expert, he adds.

Oxfordshire oilseed rape grower Michael Wheeler has a small acreage of Expert in the ground this season, and is intending to grow it again next year if the crop stands up as well as expected and the yield is as good as promised. "The stem stiffness, standing power and high yield are the key attractions for the variety, but the later flowering to avoid frost damage could also prove a valuable attribute."

Mr Wheeler calculates that at an all-in cost of less than £28/ha for Autocast establishment, compared to over £92 for the farm's min-till establishment, he saves over £13,000 a year growing 200 hectares the crop at Barclay Farms, Newnham Courtney. "With the current economics of oilseed rape we have to look at every way to reduce growing costs.

"The Autocast enables us to establish rape at the optimum time, which could otherwise prove very difficult on the heavy land. It also leaves the soil surface in much better condition for more timely autumn and spring management," he adds. Oilseed Rape seed is sown untreated, at a rate of 5kg/ha, along with 5kg/ha of slug pellets.

Michael Godfrey advocates lower seed rates for the earlier August Autocast sowings - possibly down to 4kg/ha or less in good conditions with ample soil moisture. "The aim is to avoid plants that grow tall and lanky in the autumn; yields have consistently proven higher from thin crops managed more actively, than thick lush crops going into the winter.

"Where growers are using home saved seed, worth just 16p a kilo, there's always the temptation to broadcast on more. Whilst this may be judicious for later Autocast crops, or in very dry conditions when more seed may be lost, if early August soil moisture and temperature is reasonable then reduced seed rates will create a better crop."

If crops are thin, however, growers must pay closer attention to preventing slug and pigeon damage through the winter, warns Mr Godfrey. The benefit is lower disease pressure, although both Expert and NKBravour are reasonably resistant to both Light Leaf Spot and Phoma, he adds.

Contact us for further information