Is there any skill in growing an economically viable crop of OSR?

[richard hammond]

As the title asks, is there any skill in growing this awful waste of time trouble some crop??
Let me have your secrets!

 

[Gong Farmer]

No. it's all luck.

Seriously though, the only consistently successful measure I've come across is to get out of the crop, don't grow it at all for 5-7 years. This would need to be done over a large area mind, e.g. county-wide.
Then grow it again as a 'virgin' crop

 

[teslacoils]

No.

But I'd add the caveat that the largest "skill" in profitable combinable growing seems to be selling it on the right day .

 

[richard hammond]

No. it's all luck.

Seriously though, the only consistently successful measure I've come across is to get out of the crop, don't grow it at all for 5-7 years. This would need to be done over a large area mind, e.g. county-wide.
Then grow it again as a 'virgin' crop

I absolutely agree it is all about luck!! I think the word for virgin areas in the UK are well beyond my working life!!

 

[richard hammond]

No.

But I'd add the caveat that the largest "skill" in profitable combinable growing seems to be selling it on the right day .

but the trouble is OSR is not worth enough when you look at the Cost of production,

 

[teslacoils]

but the trouble is OSR is not worth enough when you look at the Cost of production,

Hence I don't grow it. It became a constant battle against pests, at least one of which will cause untold damage. Never really did s good enough job on BG. Left the land full of slugs. And the following wheat wasn't really as good as after peas / linseed / grass.

So the skill is now in trusting judgement and not ordering any seed.

 

[Warp Land Farmer]

As the title asks, is there any skill in growing this awful waste of time trouble some crop??
Let me have your secrets!

vernalization

 

[Farma Parma]

As the title asks, is there any skill in growing this awful waste of time trouble some crop??
Let me have your secrets!

I'll let you know it 12months time !!
Just about to sow some tomorrow.

Best break crop on my arable farm in my cropping rotation with Peas being second Oats a 3rd.

 

[ajd132]

but the trouble is OSR is not worth enough when you look at the Cost of production,

Disagree. It can be (if it doesn’t get eaten by beetles) if you get over the myth that it needs expensive hybrid seed, pre ems, 3 insecticides in the autumn and 2 in the spring, 4 fungicides and 240kgs n! 3t/ha will give us a good margin here

 

[DrWazzock]

It was £400 per ton plus bonuses a few years back when it was easier to grow and we could get 30 cwt per acre without too much bother. We grew it last year and scraped half that yield due to larvae in the stems even though we had got it through the grazing stage. Last autumn they grazed the lot off. Not worth trying again until something fundamental changes. If I was nearer the coast and higher up on better land I might be tempted but down here it’s game over. We seem to attract every bug going. All combinables will be direct drilled spring barley next year in the hope of freeing up time to run another business. Less output than wheat but this land is hopeless for wheat and leaves little margin.
That leaves me spring barley grass sheep and turnips which for some reason seem to tolerate the beetles. Maybe beet as well but with herbs going and virus problem it’s not that rosy.
Tired of the stress and hassle and faffing about.

 

[Feldspar]

Pigeon control is often overlooked.

 

[Farma Parma]

Pigeon control is often overlooked.

Pigeons/Slugs there all at it... not a cheap crow to grow right enough but boy does it sort heavy land out for the next crop of wheat like pretty much nowt else here

 

[DrWazzock]

Pigeon control is often overlooked.

hailstorms, header losses, side knives, bed extensions, dessication or swathing, soggy wet swaths, leakage out of a pin hole.
I’d put up with all of that but the larvae in the stems did it for me. By that time you have had a fair spend and it’s not a good feeling ploughing it in.

 

[Feldspar]

Rape margin has been top or 2nd top for the last 4 years for us. Combined some beans today (admittedly volunteer ones we kept) at 1.25 t/ha. The alternatives are far worse IMO.

 

[ajd132]

Pigeon control is often overlooked.

£70ha on pigeon control I reckon. And it’s the best investment into the crop. Luckily I have a lots around where my 16 year old quad bike and shooting mad cousins lives so he can earn some cash!

 

[teslacoils]

I think with a bit of thinking I could probably rent day tickets for pigeon shooting for more than the crop output.

 

[former farmer]

It sounds as though the Dyson outfit has has enough of growing rape. Farming Today or rather anti Farming Today as I like to call had this piece this morning. They didn't have the gumption to ask what would replace it in the rotation

Farming Today - 05/08/20 - Dyson ditches oilseed rape, Missing cows in Northern Ireland, Turning pig waste into energy - BBC Sounds

Dyson are ditching oil seed rape, blaming falling yields. Sybil Ruscoe presents.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[farenheit]

£70ha on pigeon control I reckon. And it’s the best investment into the crop. Luckily I have a lots around where my 16 year old quad bike and shooting mad cousins lives so he can earn some cash!

You pay for pigeon control!?!

 

[fudge]

It sounds as though the Dyson outfit has has enough of growing rape. Farming Today or rather anti Farming Today as I like to call had this piece this morning. They didn't have the gumption to ask what would replace it in the rotation

Farming Today - 05/08/20 - Dyson ditches oilseed rape, Missing cows in Northern Ireland, Turning pig waste into energy - BBC Sounds

Dyson are ditching oil seed rape, blaming falling yields. Sybil Ruscoe presents.

www.bbc.co.uk

Strange one. I thought the whole purpose of Beeswax was to reduce the proprietor’s bank balance? Maybe they will go into potatoes? In answer to the OP’s question luck is the most important ingredient for a successful OSR crop in these parts. That’s according to a Yorkshire man who also tells me the promised land lies north of the Humber.

 

[ajd132]

You pay for pigeon control!?!

Yes? And I cost my time and the price of rope bangers out.