Farmers see worst oil seed rape crops they have ever seen this year

Farmers are seeing some of the worst oil seed rape crops they have ever seen this year.  Numbers of recorded cabbage stem flea beetles (CSFB) have increased greatly over the past few years.

Methods traditionally used by farmers to fight the pests are no longer having the same affect, as the beetle is becoming increasingly resistant to chemical sprays.
 
Keith Wells, who farms oil seed rape, said, “These are the worst crops of rape we’ve ever had.” Keith said that the problem had become “seriously worse” since the European Union banned the use of neonicotinoid treatments in 2013.
 
The problem is driving up the cost of growing oil seed rape, with farmers having to nearly double their seed rates to combat the problem.  In 2012 oil seed rape was worth £400 per tonne compared to today’s price of just over £250 per tonne. Keith said that some farmers might “seriously question the viability” of growing the crop in the future.
 
Keith Wells spoke to FarmingUK TV at his farm in East Yorkshire.