Candidate oilseed rape variety targets top yield spot

A candidate oilseed rape variety is being tipped as a potential market leader as growers assess autumn drilling plans.

With a gross output of 108%, 2% higher than its nearest rival, AHDB Recommended List candidate variety RGT Eros is one to watch, says Kirsty Richards, national technical manager for seeds at Frontier Agriculture. Eros is the only candidate entry included in Frontier Agriculture’s oilseed rape derisking partnership this season – a scheme which seeds Frontier offer additional support to oilseed rape growers. Launched in 2024 at the height of cabbage stem flea beetle pressure, the initiative aims to reduce establishment risk for growers by waiving the cost of seed and companion crops if a crop fails to establish.

“The Frontier OSR derisking partnership has run for several years and is due to run again for this drilling season,” said Dr Richards. “We began it in 2024 when cabbage stem flea beetle was at its peak.”

Frontier sits at both ends of the chain as an input and advice supplier and grain buyer, which places the company in a good position to minimise the risk for growers, adds Dr Richards.

Growers who sign-up to the scheme have the cost for the seed and accompanying companion crop waived if the crop fails to establish. “We only place the best possible varieties in the derisking partnership.”

Alongside its yield performance, RGT Eros offers disease resistance scores of eight for both phoma and light leaf spot, comparable with established RAGT varieties including RGT Kanzzas.

“It has good oil content, which is attractive for the oil bonuses,” said Dr Richards.

Frontier said the variety had performed consistently across its trial network nationwide, with results mirrored in AHDB trials. Consistency across regions remains an important consideration as growers seek reliable returns from the crop.

Ed Stanford, cereals and oilseeds product manager at RAGT, said commercial expectations remained measured while the variety retained candidate status.

“We are expecting RGT Eros to be well placed to come onto the new RL in the winter, and for it to be a variety that takes a decent market share,” he said. “With prospects for the crop appearing so good at the moment, it is the perfect opportunity for OSR growers to see how much further they can push yields with the latest genetics.”