A major crop disease may become harder to control because fungal pathogens are less susceptible to widely used fungicides. Genetic changes in fungal pathogen populations are reducing the effectiveness of azole fungicides – used by farmers for decades when tackling phoma stem canker, say scientists at Rothamsted Research. Research... Read more

• Traits help growers fight back • Good overall disease package • Think differently for success A new hybrid oilseed rape variety with resilience to cabbage stem flea beetle promises a big step forward in helping growers successfully grow the crop. LG Avenger is the culmination of almost a... Read more

• Lower pressure from flea beetle • Better outlook towards harvest • Varieties are key consideration Cabbage stem flea beetle pressure is at its lowest level for six years, suggests the latest survey of oilseed rape growers. Well over half of rape growers report little or no autumn challenge... Read more

• Lower pressure from flea beetle • Still a valuable arable break crop • Goal to increase area of UK rape The 2025 oilseed rape season is approaching with renewed confidence after encouraging results from a cabbage stem flea beetle initiative. The project, which assessed flea beetle stem larvae... Read more

Adjusting drilling dates and planting companion crops can help combat cabbage stem flea beetle in oilseed rape. Drilling rape in the traditional mid- to late-August slot can exacerbate flea beetle problems – increasing the chance of crop failure, says ProCam technical manager Nigel Scott. Different thinking is needed to... Read more

A new herbicide has been approved for post-emergence broadleaf weed control in linseed. Laya which contains 200g/kg metsulfuron-methyl is a sulfonyl urea herbicide by off-patent manufacturers Life Scientific. It is a reverse engineered formulation of Ally SX. Life Scientific specialises in bringing off-patent crop protection products to market with... Read more

A new disease rating on the latest recommended list for oilseed rape aims to help growers choose varieties resistant to verticillium. This year  is the first time verticillium resistance ratings have been included in the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board list. Top conventional oilseed rape variety Pinnacle is rated... Read more

Plant breeder DSV showcased its latest PhomaBlocker and Powerful Pods oilseed rape varieties at last month’s Cereals event. “Our PhomaBlocker technology has taken on added significance following recent Rothamsted Research findings the disease is becoming resistant to azole fungicides across Europe,” explains DSV UK’s Sarah Hawthorne. “With three different... Read more

An innovative digital support tool means growers can now remotely monitor the migration of key oilseed rape pests. Launched at Cereals 2024, MagicTrap from Bayer is a fully automated, nex- generation digital yellow water trap. It provides farmers and agronomists with continuously updated information on pest pressure. The trap autonomously... Read more

Benchmarking performance and keeping an eye on input costs will be key for profitable oilseed rape production during the coming season. Big swings in rape prices, increasing input costs and variable yields mean net margins for oilseed rape have fluctuated considerably over the last five years, says the Agriculture... Read more