Oilseed rape looks set to be Lincolnshire grower Ben Jackson’s most profitable crop this year, but he’s avoiding any knee-jerk reaction to increase his area for 2027.
Success in recent years has come from a more considered approach, with the crop grown no more than one year in five across the rotation, taking its place alongside first wheats, barley, legumes, linseed and maize.
Also underpinning rape’s upturn in fortunes on the farm has been a fresh look at establishment, which includes a firm philosophy to drill according to conditions and not date, along with a commitment to hybrid varieties.
“We’re taking a long term view with our cropping, and that includes oilseed rape,” says Mr Jackson. “Reducing its frequency in the rotation has certainly helped us to achieve better and more consistent performance, particularly in combatting flea beetle, as has being more selective about the fields used to grow it each year.
“We still don’t know enough about how far the beetle will migrate within a farm, so maximising the distance between previous rape crops and new drilling is an additional safeguard that we’re taking.”
Mr Jackson’s approach reflects several of the management principles promoted by the OSR Reboot Programme, including special separation and careful field selection, hybrid variety choice, and establishment based on conditions rather than calendar date.
From a base at Low Farm, Somerby, J.J. Jackson Ltd grew 480ha of oilseed rape for a 2026 harvest that spanned 11th to 17th July. Split mainly between the Limagrain Field Seeds hybrid varieties Attica, LG Adapt and LG Avenger, the crop achieved an average yield of 4.5t/ha, at 7.5% moisture and with an oil content of 45.5%.
“We’re very happy with the outcome,” says Mr Jackson, “with these yields well above the norm for us. We’re really seeing the value of hybrid vigour in these varieties, and will continue with broadly the same acreage and with the refined growing methodology that we’ve developed in recent years.”
Patience at drilling time is one of the key points, with nothing going into the ground until both moisture and soil temperatures are optimal, and there is greater accuracy in the use of a Sumo LDS that places the seed alongside liquid fertiliser.
“I’d rather wait until September than go earlier in the wrong conditions,” he adds. “Hybrid vigour is a big benefit here, as the crop requires less time, so there is no real pressure to drill early.
“We’re using a lower seed rate too, to give these more vigorous plants the space to grow.
“The important thing is to be ready to go as soon as conditions come right, so that we achieve the rapid establishment that will allow the crop to put its roots down and grow away from the flea beetle threat.”
Pre- and post-emergence herbicides are important, and some blackgrass control is incorporated into what is a largely standard inputs programme. Much of the land benefits from farmyard manure, so spring fertiliser tends to focus on nitrogen and sulphur, split over three applications, with P and K applied only where needed.
“We’re looking for the crop to kick on again in the spring, and the hybrid varieties do just that, developing a thick stem within robust and resilient plants,” says Mr Jackson.
“Harvest has been earlier this year, for all crops, but this has certainly not been to the detriment of the oilseed rape.”
With high quality oilseeds safely in store, it’s now about applying discipline in relation to next year’s crop, maintaining a sustainable acreage in the rotation, waiting for optimum conditions, and continuing to draw on the latest hybrid breeding technology.
About The Author
Florentina Petrescu
OSR Product Manager
