Optimism for oilseed rape in latest survey results

• 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 from the pest, according to the 2024/25 Bayer Dekalb survey. The finding is coupled with high average establishment scores for the crop.

The benchmarking survey tracks over150 oilseed rape growers across the country. This year’s results point to a cautious optimism for oilseed rape crop prospects amid a welcome decline in flea beetle pressure.

Growing season

Coupled with last autumn’s favourable crop establishment conditions, fewer problems with CSFB mean that more oilseed rape crops – 85% compared to 73% in 2023/24 – are being taken through to harvest this season (see graph).

Crop condition going into flowering was also better this season than in recent seasons. On average, growers scored their crops at 6.8 out of 10 – the best condition going into flowering for the past three years.

“Almost three-quarters of growers who responded to the survey expect their crops to yield better [this summer] than they did last year,” says Bayer technical manager Ellie Borthwick-North.

Variety performance

The survey findings also point to the performance advantage of mainstream double-zero hybrid varieties over pure lines, with better establishment, lower cabbage stem flea beetle larval levels and slightly higher early spring green area indices (GAI).

“Their performance advantage was particularly marked when pressures from the pest were more than marginal and from later plantings,” adds Ms Borthwick-North.

While close to one-third of the growers responding to the survey intend to reduce their rape plantings for harvest 2026, 26% plan to maintain their current oilseed rape crop area and a further 37% plan to increase their rape area in the coming season.

“This is the highest level of growers planning to at least maintain their current oilseed rape area in the past three years,” says Ms Borthwick-North.

Season ahead

Rapeseed price, soil moisture and yields this harvest are among the main factors likely to influence decisions on the area of oilseed rape drilled this autumn.

“Clearly also governing the decision-making of many is the apparent CSFB risk – whether assessed by levels of adults visible this summer, adult damage last autumn or larval damage this spring.”

Given the critical importance of flea beetle to crop performance, it is not surprising the survey findings reveal that most growers monitor the pest in the autumn, more than a quarter using some form of yellow trap.

These include the popular MagicTrap digital yellow water traps launched by Bayer at Cereals 2024. The traps were also being demonstrated to visitors at last month’s  Cereals event in Lincolnshire.

“While challenges remain, well-grown oilseed rape continues to be the best break ahead of winter wheat. Findings from this season’s Bayer Dekalb survey reveal that we are beginning to see a more positive outlook for the crop.”