Goldcrop: High temperatures widen window for sowing oilseed rape
Goldcrop has cautioned that slow demand for seed is an indication that the area of Winter Oilseed Rape (WOSR) to be sown for 2014 could be under threat. The Cork-based seed company has also reminded farmers that problems with last year’s were caused by the unprecedented weather.
Goldcrop general manager Donal Fitzgerald said: “Many growers are probably disillusioned with the WOSR crop following this past year. A lot of crops experienced problems with poor establishment, pigeon damage and weed infestation, all of which contributed to an overall poor on-farm yield in 2013. However, there were also many high-yielding crops harvested, and these tended to be those that were sown early, established well, and had a decent plant canopy developed coming into the spring.”
Mr Fitzgerald stressed that the first six weeks of the WOSR crop is where the foundation of yield is generated. The best ever year for oilseed yields in Ireland was in harvest 2011, largely due to excellent establishment of crops in autumn 2010. The weather conditions this present autumn are the same as autumn 2010, he said.
“Once the crop is established correctly, then the other crop management practices will fall into place and with a lower cost. And we know from experience that good yields will follow in such situations,” he added.
The Goldcrop manager also expects good returns from next autumn’s oilseed crop. With a price of €350 a tonne projected for next autumn’s harvest, Goldcrop says farmers can earn €140 to €210 per acre from a target yield of 1.8t to 2.0t per acre.
“This level of margin is competitive against many alternatives, but it also shows that a high yield is of key importance. Proper crop establishment is the key building block needed to deliver that high yield.”
