DIFFICULT SEASON HIGHLIGHTS HYBRID RAPE’S BENEFITS IN SCOTLAND

The benefits of Emerson, a new hybrid oilseed rape variety marketed by Nickerson which has the highest-possible resistance to Light Leaf Spot, have been crystal clear throughout a season in which the disease - spread by rain splash-dispersed spores produced on infected plants - has been seen at record levels, according to GrainCo Scotland.

“Oilseed rape crops have faced considerable challenges this season,” comments Charlie Birnie, Commercial Director of the largest grain trading and marketing business in Scotland and the North of England. “Many farmers in Scotland struggled to establish a crop because of adverse weather last summer, while wet conditions during the autumn contributed to poor establishment and reduced the vigour of conventional varieties. Waterlogged fields subsequently made it difficult to apply an autumn fungicide, which compounded growers’ problems, and a significant percentage of the oilseed rape acreage remained untreated against Light Leaf Spot.

“Emerson has provided a dramatic contrast. All the crops established very well and have looked exceptional throughout the growing season, which we expect to translate into significantly higher yields at harvest.

“Because it is a new variety, the amount of seed available was very limited and the 300 hectares we had to allocate was spread across 25 farms in order to evaluate its performance across a variety of soil types and growing conditions. The most obvious thing is how evenly these crops have developed throughout the season. One grower has a field which varies in height by more than 100'. With a conventional oilseed rape the lower-lying areas would normally come into flower first, with higher areas demonstrating reduced germination, less uniform establishment, later flowering and reduced yield. Emerson emerged evenly, exhibited typical hybrid vigour even under cold, wet conditions and established strong, thick-stemmed plants that flowered at the same time, which is very important in ensuring even development, ripening and harvesting.

“The oilseed rape acreage in Scotland will undoubtedly increase significantly this year, replacing some of the spring barley which many farmers were forced to drill because difficult conditions last autumn prevented them establishing winter cereals. Seed availability will limit the acreage of Emerson again this year, but there’s no doubt that it will be a very strong contender.”

Les Daubney, Nickerson’s Oilseed and Protein Crops Product Manager, adds: “Emerson has the best-possible (9) resistance to Light Leaf Spot, which makes it very well suited to situations where this is present. We have not seen the disease on any crop of Emerson and the further North you go the more compelling the case for growing this variety becomes. Emerson also offers a good all-round package of agronomic features, making it easy to grow and harvest, while the higher-than-average oil content and yield generates very attractive financial returns.”

Emerson is sold in packs containing 1.5 million viable seeds, sufficient to drill three hectares at 50 seeds per square metre.

For more information on Emerson simply click on the variety name in the left hand menu or download the Technical and Marketing Guide for the variety below. 

FOR FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
• Les Daubney, Nickerson on 01472 370154
• Julian Cooksley, Kendalls Communications on 01394 610022