Oilseed rape variety decisions will have knock-on to 2013, says NFU

Oilseed rape growers who wish to farm save seed are being told that only certain varieties will be suitable for farm saving next year, the NFU said today. This follows important changes to rapeseed delivery specifications and information added to HGCAs new recommended lists.

NFU chief arable adviser Guy Gagen said that farmers should carefully plan their planting for next year and look at the connection between extra information the HGCA has included in the Recommended List (RL) for oilseed rape and oilseed crushers new requirements on acceptability of varieties.

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 crops, Mr Gagen said.

Seeking a straightforward solution for farmers, crushers have agreed that provided a variety was first listed with national or EU authorities at below the 18 micromoles glucosinolates, variety can serve as an indicator that the crop is compliant. To this end, variety declaration is to be required from harvest 2013 for deliveries to all major EU oilseed crushers.

Establishing which varieties are suitable will be made easier now HGCA has published data from official National List trials.  This includes winter varieties on the RL and descriptive list for spring varieties that were below 18 micromoles of glucosinolates when registered with the authorities.  NFU and crushers had requested this information be made available to help farmers meet new conditions on declaring variety on delivery.  HGCA has provided some good information, but this is not being released on all varieties by breeders and 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.  One critical element that has changed is the view from the market on acceptability of varieties that can be delivered in future.

Oilseed crushers will ask that the variety or mix of varieties is declared on grain passports and that seed was saved only once.  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.  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.

Varieties believed suitable for saving from the 2011/12 RL are listed below -compliance with FEDIOL (European oilseed crushers) position on glucosinolates. NFU list of Winter Oilseed Rape varieties suitable for planting autumn 2011 and acceptable for delivery in 2013 if farm saved: DK Cabernet, Vision, Castille, Lioness, Expert, Es-Astrid, NKBravour, Catana, Fashion, Sesame and Cash.

Hybrids: None

• It is not legally possible to farm save seed from any hybrid variety.

• HGCAs 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.

• EU Seed, oilseed crusher and farmer organisations have lobbied the Commission to change the definition of 00 (double-low) oilseed rape from 25 micromoles down to 18 micromoles for registration on the EU seeds Common Catalogue.

• More information on EU oilseed crushers (FEDIOL) position can be found here. NFU understands this change is aimed at making EU oilseed rape meal consistently lower in glucosinolates than competing sources.  This should consequently increase rates for inclusion in rations and demand from feed compounders, improving value for seed crushed in the EU and making locally crushed oilseed meal worth more.

• From 2013 harvest NFU anticipates oilseed crushers will expect declaration of rapeseed variety (or varieties, in a mixture) on the grain passport, and for farmers to keep evidence that seed used was farm-saved only once.

• The NFU is asking its farmer members to check oilseed rape contracts against the standard FOSFA terms listed on NFUOnline or available on request from merchants or co-operatives.