DSV’s new winter oilseed rape hybrid Dompteur is making a strong first impression on farm, with Suffolk grower Henry Ruffle of John H Ruffle & Sons reporting exceptional vigour, resilience and ease of management from his inaugural 24ha crop.
Drilled on 2 September following rainfall, later than initially planned, the crop was established after Henry deliberately avoided sowing into dry seedbeds based on previous experience. The field, following winter wheat, was prepared using a top-down cultivation system before rolling and drilling with a Väderstad drill, alongside an application of chicken muck to support establishment.
Having historically favoured conventional varieties due to their higher seed rates, Henry made the switch to hybrids after seeing the performance potential of newer genetics. Dompteur, one of the highest-ranking hybrids on the market, stood out for its top Recommended List performance and exceptional oil content.
“Yield is king,” Henry explained. “Choosing varieties that maximise earning potential is essential, and Dompteur’s performance on paper made it an easy choice.”
The crop was also entered into Frontier’s derisking scheme, available on selected varieties, providing added reassurance in an increasingly volatile growing environment. While Henry himself has avoided severe weather losses in recent years, neighbouring growers have suffered from hail damage, making the additional protection particularly appealing as oilseed rape prices strengthen.
Despite concerns over cabbage stem flea beetle, larvae pressure and pigeon grazing, especially given the field’s woodland surroundings, Dompteur has required no insecticide inputs to date. Its rapid establishment and vigorous growth proved highly effective.
“Once it got going, the pigeons simply didn’t stand a chance,” Henry noted.
So vigorous was the crop in spring that nitrogen applications had to be adjusted from Henry’s usual three-way split to just two doses due to rapid forward growth.
Aside from a few rough patches in one field corner, Henry described the crop as straightforward and low-risk to manage.
Agronomist Neil Leech has also been impressed.
“Dompteur’s spring vigour has been exceptional,” he said. “It’s noticeably faster out of the blocks than other varieties on some quite marginal land, and its disease package is very strong.”
Neil highlighted Dompteur’s Recommended List-leading yield, robust disease resistance, and impressive performance in Frontier trials as key reasons for recommending it. He also noted that while verticillium wilt pressure has reduced on the farm due to wider rotations incorporating sugar beet, peas and beans, Dompteur’s broad disease profile remains highly attractive.
Importantly, the crop has also come through sharp morning frosts during flowering without issue.
“It’s slightly shorter than some HEAR varieties we’ve grown, which is a positive, and so far I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other growers,” Neil added.
For DSV, Dompteur represents a significant addition to its expanding oilseed rape portfolio.
As the highest-yielding variety on the 2026/27 Winter Oilseed Rape Recommended List, Dompteur delivers a UK gross output of 107% of controls, increasing to 108% in the North. Its oil content of 46.3% places it among the very best on the market.
Dompteur also becomes DSV’s second variety to feature its advanced phoma blocker trait, combining RLMS and RLM7 resistance genes for enhanced protection against multiple phoma strains. Alongside this, the variety offers TuYV resistance, pod shatter resistance, an 8 for light leaf spot, and strong verticillium wilt performance.
Its combination of autumn establishment, spring vigour, disease resilience and harvest security is positioning Dompteur as a compelling option for growers seeking both output and consistency.
For Henry Ruffle, early indications suggest the variety is already delivering on that promise, with combine results now eagerly awaited.