A strong harvest performance from Ambassador and LG Armada oilseed rape varieties, has given Sherborne, Dorset grower, Tom Matthews of Marston Agriculture, plenty of confidence to put Limagrain OSR back in the ground next season.
Harvested on 9th July, Tom’s two crops averaged a yield of 4.75 t/ha over the weighbridge, with his best field of Ambassador reaching an impressive 5.39 t/ha.
For Tom, Ambassador’s performance comes as very little surprise, having previously been impressed by the variety’s pod shatter resistance, alongside Limagrain’s track record for reliable, high-yielding OSR varieties.
“Five years ago, we grew a competitor variety which did not perform well,” Tom says. “LG’s pod shatter trait impressed me because it actually worked! LG always seem to have the top yielding oilseed rape varieties.”
Tom has been impressed with Limagrain’s oilseed rape varieties.
Ambassador was originally recommended by Nickerson’s southern regional manager, Fraser House, and given how highly Tom values the technical knowledge and support on offer from the Nickerson team, it was an easy choice for him.
Drilled from 9th to 11th September, Tom’s crops remained particularly clean throughout the season, however, considering the general unpredictability of OSR yield performance, Tom admits that the real test comes at harvest, once the combine goes into the crop.
All of Tom’s crops are grown without desiccation, and his oil content results are still awaited – although the farm has historically achieved high results, consistently exceeding 46%, and reaching a record of 49%, with Limagrain OSR varieties.
About The Author
Florentina Petrescu
OSR Product Manager
