Checklist For Growing Vistive Winter Oilseed Rape
Introduction

Vistive is a new range of winter oilseed rape with a high oleic, low linolenic fatty acid oil profile (HO,LL) - a much healthier oil for the food processing industry.

The linolenic acid content in the oil must be maintained to a minimum (less than 3-4% subject to contract) to be of value to the food industry. While varieties differ in their oil profile, contamination from double low or high erucic acid oilseed rape crops is the most important factor influencing the level of linolenic acid. If the crop fails to meet specification it will be downgraded to standard oilseed rape.

When growing Vistive varieties it is crucial to:

Control volunteers
Ensure adequate isolation or block cropping
Segregate the crop at and after harvest
Obtain confirmation of oil profile before moving it off the farm

Controlling Volunteers

Research has shown that less than 1 volunteer per m2 can adversely affect oil quality and may result in a loss of premium. It is important to choose fields carefully with volunteers in mind and, while it is not possible to be prescriptive, the following factors should be considered.

Rotational break
-
4 or more years break is preferred but not always practical in current rotations
- Virgin oilseed rape land is ideal but seldom possible
- Shorter rotations are possible but you must be aware that the risk from volunteers is higher
- The risk from volunteers is substantially reduced once Vistive is established in the rotation

Cultivation and establishment systems
- Spraying of stale seedbeds with Roundup should be used were ever possible
- Minimal tillage establishment and plough-based systems are preferred. Remember ploughing as it can bring up volunteers from depth
- Direct-drilling or autocast should be avoided

Harvest
- Crops must be monitored through the early spring and summer, with numbers of volunteers and infested areas recorded. Consider harvesting these areas separately
Isolation And Block Cropping

Linolenic acid levels may be influenced by pollen from nearby crops. The risk largely theoretical and is much lower than that from volunteers. Major effects from cross pollination only really occur when pollen production within the crop is poor or variable.


Consider separating Vistive crops from double low or high erucic oilseed rape crops by 50 metres
Wherever possible block Vistive crops together

Storage And Testing

Crops must be stored on farm until they can be moved
either to an intermediate store or to the crush. During this
time the crop will be tested to make sure that it achieves
specification. The crop will also be tested pre-tipping at
the crush. Ensure that:

Adequate storage is available on farm or harvest movement provisions are made in advance
The crop is segregated from other oilseed rape crops
Any part of the crop possibly contaminated with volunteers can be stored separately and quality checked
Representative samples are taken and sent off for oil quality assessment

Summary Checklist


Do you have problems with volunteer oilseed rape in the rotation?
Can you minimize volunteers using your existing rotation?
- Land with a 4 or more years break after oilseed rape
- Virgin oilseed rape land
Can you minimize volunteers using your cultivation and establishment methods?
- Use stale seedbeds
- Use minimal tillage or ploughing
Can you separate Vistive crops from double low or high erucic oilseed rape?
- Block Vistive crops together
- Consider 50 metres separation from other oilseed rape crops
Do you have adequate storage on farm?
- Segregation of Vistive from other oilseed rape crop types
- Ability to store any part of the crop separately that is likely to be contaminated by volunteers until oil quality has been analysed

Next Steps

If you wish to take advantage of this new opportunity now is the time to act.

Contracts are available with significant grower premiums for planting autumn 2007 for harvest 2008.