Save energy and lower fuel bills with the low biomass rape, Es Astrid

With the escalating costs of diesel and other inputs based on oil, ways and means of minimising travel through the growing oilseed rape crop could result in a useful reduction in growing costs and so boost profitability. This is the finding of Farm Manager Philip Steans of Lackham Farm, Wiltshire who has calculated that by growing low biomass rape varieties such as Es Astrid, input and operational costs, particularly fuel costs, can be minimised.

Philip Steans explains that Lackham Farm is part of Wiltshire College and so has a dual function – the first is to offer wide educational opportunities for students in all aspects of arable and livestock farming and the second is to farm commercially for profit whilst demonstrating good commercial practice. "When it comes to all enterprises, beef, sheep, dairy, maize, wheat or rape, we aim to produce a profit. Oilseed rape has the potential to produce a good yield on our soils and is grown in a 1 in 5 rotations in order to reduce disease risk. We choose to grow low biomass rape varieties such as Astrid which can be grown under a low input regime and which offers more opportunity to produce a profitable crop."

According to Philip, Astrid has been a consistent and high yielding variety over the last three years that he has grown it. "I like the low input potential and the ease of management of Astrid, in particular. It offers opportunities to reduce inputs because of its low biomass and disease profile. Because it has excellent Phoma resistance, it has not required a specific stem canker treatment. Because it is a short, stiff-strawed variety of low biomass, it hasn't required a growth regulator. Because it is low biomass, it is easy and quick to combine. All this adds up to less inputs and fewer passes in the crop, which in turn leads to lower variable and operational costs."

"With fuel prices as they are, we need to look at ways of minimising the number of times we travel through the crop. A low biomass variety with stiff straw and good disease resistance will minimise the need to travel. And when it comes to harvest, you can't afford any extra material going through the combine. Fuel costs are a major cost consideration these days with the spiralling cost of diesel," says Mr. Steans.

"In 2005 when Astrid was first Listed, the price of red diesel was around 20 p/litre. Last year this went up to 36 p/litre and it is now around 59 p/litre. We are in a situation where farmers are questioning each and every machinery pass, particularly as these fuel costs are expected to rise even further. Our combine burns 400 litres of diesel per day so we need an efficient harvest and I don't want to be slowed down."

Low biomass crops like Es Astrid increase combine efficiency by approximately 25% which means that a potential fuel saving of £59 a day on harvested area.

Low biomass rape varieties such as Es Astrid and the new candidate variety Es Alienor are both short, low biomass varieties and so allow a faster work rate at harvest, reducing the strain on machinery and minimising fuel consumption. Less volume of plant material through the combine can increase the hectares harvested by up to 25%, leading to substantial fuel economy, says John Hardy, Director of Grainseed.

Es Astrid also shows high and consistent yields, meaning that however it is established or wherever it is grown on whatever soil type, it performs consistently well. In Recommended List trials last year Astrid yielded 113% in Shropshire, 112% in Oxfordshire, 111% in Norfolk and Nottinghamshire, 109% in Hampshire, 108% in Cambridge, 107% in Suffolk and Edinburgh, 106% in Lincolnshire and 102% in Perthshire and the Borders. Over all regions of the country Es Astrid produces high and consistent yields for growers," he reports.

"Astrid also has the highest disease rating of any conventional variety for Phoma. It has an eight rating for resistance to lodging, an eight rating for shortness of stem and an eight rating for stem stiffness. This adds up to a high performing, reliable rape variety that is easier and more cost-effective to manage," concludes Mr. Hardy.

For further comment and information on the oilseed rape varieties Es Astrid or Es Alienor, please contact John Hardy, Director of Grainseed Ltd on 01379 871073 or 07836 582436.