Winter oilseed rape is currently the most profitable crop on the farm at Arnold Hitchcock
& Co on the Hertfordshire/Essex border and in particular the variety Compass is one variety
that is performing so well that it will be in the variety mix next year, according to farmer Edward
Hitchcock.
Edward explains that Arnold Hitchcock and Co is part of Pelham Farming Company Ltd, a joint
venture business looking after 5200 acres of arable land in Hertfordshire and Essex. “We farm in
our own right and also provide contract harvesting, cultivations and drilling services for
neighbouring farms. Being flat out combining and planting for at least 10 weeks of the year, we
need a spread of varieties that will perform. Compass matures earlier than our other oilseed rape
varieties, Cabernet and Sesame, yet it still delivers excellent yields and oils. We are having to
move away from later maturing rape varieties now because of workload pressure. Also sometimes if
you harvest a variety too early, oils can suffer. This has been the case with Sesame, but not with
Compass. The earliness of Compass is an important feature for the contracting side of the business.
We are very happy with its yields of 4.2 t/ha and its high oils, making it the most profitable crop
on the farm.”
“Our rotation for the last ten or so years on the heavy land has been 2 or 3 wheats followed
by a rape. An earlier maturing rape variety gives us more time to deal with black-grass, which is a
very challenging weed in the area. It also allows us to use a range of chemistries with different
modes of action actually in the rape crop itself.”
Advisor James Potter of Agrii explains that rape is a profit-generating crop in its own right
on the farm, but is also an important break crop. “Peas, linseed and spring barley have been
brought in as breaks on the lighter land and where black-grass has become more intractable. But in
oilseed rape we have some excellent residual herbicides with differing modes of action such as
carbetamide and propyzamide that we can use to help break the potentially resistant weed cycle. We
aim to get 100% control in all rape crops to help reduce the weed seed burden of this very
belligerent grass-weed. Providing you don’t move the soil too much and black-grass seed is not
germinating from depth, propyzamide can do a cracking job on black-grass, as it has this autumn.”&
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Mr. Hitchcock reports that the variable costs to date for his rape are around £389/ha, with
herbicides accounting for £54.66/ha. “This is a lot lower than herbicide costs in wheat. Seed costs
were £72/ha and fertiliser, which was our greatest variable costs, were £257.91/ha. Our fungicide
regime is aimed at Phoma, Sclerotinia and Alternaria. To date we have spent £16.08/ha.”
Edward also likes the way that the hybrid Compass picked up its heels in the spring and
flowered early. “It didn’t show this vigour particularly in the autumn, but it was later drilled on
chalky boulder clay and struggled to get going in the strong drying winds of early to mid
September. In the spring though it got away much quicker and it certainly looks bigger and stronger
and is podding up very well compared with the other two conventional rape varieties. Its spring
vigour is an important feature, especially in a season like this. Overall Compass ticks all the
boxes as far as I am concerned – it produces a good yield with very high oils, it has strong spring
vigour and earlier maturity. I will definitely be growing it next year.”
Sarah Lockhart of DSV says that Compass has outperformed the majority of rape varieties on the
HGCA East/West Listing and has the highest gross margin on the HGCA North listing. “On the
HGCA Recommended List East/West region Compass yielded 106% and in the North 107%, way ahead of the
competition. It also produces high oils of 46.7%, which will bring in good premiums and boost
profitability further.”
