Viability / profitablibity per acre of rape to other combinables.

[Dolomite]

I’ve a customer who went out of growing rape several years ago. He has asked me to look into if the crop is worth growing again in his rotation.

His reasons for this are some really good looking crops in the area and some absolutely terrible ones hammered by pigeons and the lack of neonicitinoides increasing pest pressure.

If we say went for an average between the two in the area for what could possibly be achieved. The crops left per metre squared, cost of production, yield potential and estimating of said price per tonne. Would it be more prudent to plant other cereals or break crops we know to have more success on this farm and in this area grown by ourselves. As to make every acre pay adequately and then in turn increase farm profit / viability. I believe and “back of fag packet” calculations” seem to show, that wheat etc although lower in value, yield more and profit per acre is far greater.

Has anyone else mulled this over in a similar or same way? Peoples thoughts on OSR crops in the current agri chemical / crop development climate.

 

[Flintstone]

If he can get 1.5 tpa + and sell it for £330+ plus bonuses, it’s worth growing. If he can’t, it isn’t.

 

[yellow belly]

the problem is most peoples average yield does not include ripped up crops or 2012 type years yields

looking foreward how much yield loss is flea beetle lavae damage causing
here the adults have took half of the crop but have heard of some who have last all their rape

imho the key is to plant early at low cost and plan for a replacement crop a poor crop of rape breeds black grass like no other crop

 

[Brisel]

Osr's gross margin is always a few hundred quid higher than for any other break crop other than roots or forage. That's consistent over a number of years. 2012 was one of my better osr crops, it was 2013 and 2016 that were bad. That pays for a lot of hassle and time spent keeping it alive against the myriad of pests that want to kill it! Other break crops like beans, linseed or oats are much more inconsistent in their performance.

My only advice would be to not put half your farm into it. Even wheat/barley/osr is tight enough. You need to be able to get around your whole osr area in no more than 1.5 days. I can tolerate a few pests but the timing logistics of sowing & early care are what really puts me off a big area of it.

Keep it cheap. Too many growers buying the latest whizzy hybrid seed at the top of the Recommended Lists then spending £500+/ha on lots of sprays & nutrition with much of it blown in the first 2 weeks of its life before you even know if you've got a viable crop. Aim for 3.5-4.5 t/ha and trim the spend accordingly. Simple establishment systems that quickly get the job done in mid-late August not slow fuel and steel hungry ploughing that take time you don't have during harvest. So what if the wheelings look stunted? It's like a shrub & the neighbouring plants will fill in any gaps. You'll hardly be able to see the tramlines in July to spray it off pre harvest.

Don't forget the main legacy of brassicas is slugs.

 

[ollie989898]

Finally, someone stating that OSR is a literally an 18-30 club with free booze for black grass. The idea that it does anything for it is a myth. The times I have walked tramlines and you can find the stuff under the canopy having a really nice time!

 

[warksfarmer]

£350-£400/acre clear profit after all machinery and input costs are accounted for is achievable if you stay clear of any serviced agronomy.

No till drill normal none hybrid seed off the heap not dressed or cleaned at 15kg/ha late August Apply 4kg of pellets and walk away. No insectides required.

October cheap broadleaf spray.

December/January Kerb.

Feb/March 250kg N 70kg So3.

Glyphosate and podstick June.

That is literally what we’ve done the last 2 years and it works a treat.

Pic taken in early November.

 

[Dolomite]

£350-£400/acre clear profit after all machinery and input costs are accounted for is achievable if you stay clear of any serviced agronomy.

No till drill normal none hybrid seed off the heap not dressed or cleaned at 15kg/ha late August Apply 4kg of pellets and walk away. No insectides required.

October cheap broadleaf spray.

December/January Kerb.

Feb/March 250kg N 70kg So3.

Glyphosate and podstick June.

That is literally what we’ve done the last 2 years and it works a treat.

Pic taken in early November.

Is the agronomy costs what kills the profit / margin in your view? Wanting more chemical and fert than required and making a job for themselves.

 

[warksfarmer]

Is the agronomy costs what kills the profit / margin in your view? Wanting more chemical and fert than required and making a job for themselves.

Prescribing things that don’t alter the yield basically. The only thing that alters the yield is the weather which you have no control over. Plant it cheap and thick and leave it. After all it’s basically a weed anyway.

 

[Hindsight]

Take a look at the Recommended list. Some fungicide untreated trials reintroduced. Compare the yield data for treated and untreated. Untreated has actually outyielded treated. And the fungicide programme used in these AHDB trials is very robust, far more so than even a high input system on farm. Hey ho there you go.

 

[Brisel]

Take a look at the Recommended list. Some fungicide untreated trials reintroduced. Compare the yield data for treated and untreated. Untreated has actually outyielded treated. And the fungicide programme used in these AHDB trials is very robust, far more so than even a high input system on farm. Hey ho there you go.

These are for trial plots inside a treated field, so a good clean buffer around them.

It was a low disease year. Most pesticides will depress yield in the absence of the problem they are trying to solve!

 

[ollie989898]

Many fungicides do have some very peculiar physiological effects on plants themselves, this has been recognised for years.

 

[Foxcover]

Prescribing things that don’t alter the yield basically. The only thing that alters the yield is the weather which you have no control over. Plant it cheap and thick and leave it. After all it’s basically a weed anyway.

You always said barley was a weed too Lee, what isn’t a weed?!

 

[warksfarmer]

You always said barley was a weed too Lee, what isn’t a weed?!

Did I? I don’t recall ever saying that to be honest.

 

[Brisel]

A weed is merely something growing where it shouldn't

 

[Warnesworth]

A weed is merely something growing where it shouldn't

...or maybe it's an indicator, depending on your point of view.

 

[warksfarmer]

Kerb on today.

It’ll get 100kg N via digestate in the next 2 weeks then another 150kg N and 70kg S03 mid March. Next job will be desiccation.

 

[principal skinner]

Kerb on today.

It’ll get 100kg N via digestate in the next 2 weeks then another 150kg N and 70kg S03 mid March. Next job will be desiccation.

Will you really give it nothing other than N and S between no and harvest? Wish I was as brave, might try one 6ha field with limited inputs

 

[Clive]

Will you really give it nothing other than N and S between no and harvest? Wish I was as brave, might try one 6ha field with limited inputs

Nothing really brave about it, it’s all we have donr for a few years and has made no difference to yields, in fact the last 3 years ate 3 of our best averages

 

[Clive]

I believe recent TAG trials show no MOIC for fungicides on OSR ?

 

[Andrew K]

I believe recent TAG trials show no MOIC for fungicides on OSR ?

Is that due to low yield increase, or over priced chemicals? We never used fungicide on Rape in the seventies, now just cheapo approach, no foliar late N either.