Oilseed rape growers who wish to farm-save seed should plan their variety decisions carefully for next year, the NFU has warned.
Our caution follows changes to rapeseed delivery specifications at oilseed crushers across Europe and the availability of information added to the HGCA’s new Recommended Lists.
Chief arable adviser Guy Gagen said that farmers should now look at the acceptability of varieties in order to seize hold of an opportunity to ‘generate more value’ for the UK crop.
He said: “Processors of oilseed rape across Europe have developed a strategy to improve the quality rape meal used by feed compounders. The aim is to consistently reduce average levels of glucosinolates, a limiting factor for inclusion in animal feed.
“With this improvement, the way is paved for the supply chain to generate more value for UK grown rapeseed crop.”
Seeking a straightforward solution for farmers, crushers have agreed that, provided a variety was first listed with national or EU authorities at below 18 micromoles of glucosinolates, variety can serve as an indicator that the crop is compliant.
A declaration will be required from harvest 2013 for deliveries to all major EU oilseed crushers.
The HGCA has moved to make establishing suitable varieties easier by published data from official National List trials, including winter varieties on the Recommended List and descriptive listings for spring varieties registered as below 18 micromoles of glucosinolates.
The NFU and crushers had requested this information be made available to help farmers.
Growers are advised to be cautious over the ‘fast-tracked’ or outclassed varieties on the market. Mr Gagen added: “Information on the performance of varieties tested in the HGCA RL trials in 2010 has just been published for varieties listed there, and farmers’ decision-making for autumn 2011 will be largely based on the results of this work.
“Crushers will ask that the variety or mix of varieties is declared on grain passports and that seed was saved only once.
“If offered seed not on the new RL and where no official data on glucosinolates is provided, farmers should check with their merchant and get written confirmation from the breeder that crushers will accept the variety. The NFU will continue to push breeders to release glucosinolates data on all varieties.
“Farmers who wish to keep their options open for farm-saved seed from the following crop need to be aware that only certain varieties will be suitable for farm-saving next year, or delivery to crushers from 2013.”
Varieties believed suitable for saving from the 2011/12 RL are listed below:
DK Cabernet, Vision, Castille, Lioness, Expert, Es-Astrid, NKBravour, Catana, Fashion, Sesame and Cash. Hybrids: None
HGCA’s Recommended Lists can be found here and have been updated for 2011/12 to include official data on glucosinolates for the first time. New varieties are already required to meet the 18 micromole criteria before achieving recommended listing. More information on EU oilseed crushers’ (FEDIOL) position can be found here. Click here for more crops news from the NFU.
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