Compass

Status: North region and East & West region Recommended Lists

Compass was added to the HGCA Recommended List 2011 / 2012 (East and West and North regions) last December. Compass shows all the attributes – fast autumn vigour,  high oil and seed yield, excellent straw characteristics, and good disease resistance – that are expected from a DSV hybrid.

Gross Output

With the highest gross output in the Northern region (107.4%) Compass remains the No1 variety for the north. This is made up of a combination of the highest seed yield (104%) and the highest oil content (46.3%) on the Recommended List for the North. Compass also performs exceptionally well in the East and West regions with a gross output which outperforms the majority of varieties on the Recommended List. But it is the high on farm yields of Compass which set it apart from other varieties on the list.

Compass is one of the few varieties that gives excellent performance in both East and West and North trials making it reliable across a wide range of climates and conditions.

Autumn Vigour

Compass is well known for its fast autumn and spring establishment.

Disease Resistance

Compass has good resistance to light leaf spot (6.2%) which is becoming a serious problem throughout the UK and it is in the pack for resistance to stem canker. Its excellent regional yield performances from the official trials stand as testament to its universal suitability.
 

Agronomy

The extensive root system associated with hybrid varieties help plants reach vital nutrients. Compass' dense canopy minimises the amount of daylight hitting the soil, thus reducing the risk of a late weed flush. It is medium flowering (6) with a maturity date (5) that coincides with the main crop OSR harvest. Compass begins flowering after the greatest threat of frost damage has passed and is fully ripe without any delay to harvest date.

Straw Characteristics

Compass has excellent straw characteristics. It is a medium height, stiff variety, especially when treated with a PGR as part of a normal spray programme. It has the highest score for stem stiffness (8) and above average scores for resistance to lodging (8).

Download the Compass Information Sheet for the East and West Region and the North Region

The above data has been sourced from the HGCA Recommended List 2012/13