Landmark oilseed offers improved standing power and increased yields

A new oilseed rape variety with the highest possible rating for lodging resistance offers growers across the East and West region the potential of strong yields and improved harvesting efficiencies.

Eiffel, which is currently in Recommended List trials for the HGCA’s East and West region, is the next big variety and the natural successor to Castille, says Beckii Gibbs, seed manager for United Oilseeds.

"Growers like the year on year consistency and ease of management provided by the low biomass of Castille, but it is now five years old and the industry has been searching for a successor.

"Eiffel has already shown its potential to deliver high yields with a gross output of 108% and an oil content of 45.8%," Mrs Gibbs says. These figures put Eiffel 5% ahead of Castille in terms of gross output and 1.8% ahead on oil content she explains.

"Castille has been a solid performer for many years, but it is moving backwards in comparison to the latest varieties. Eiffel shares many of Castille’s attributes for reliability and consistency, but with improved yield and oil bonus potential."

With a low biomass and a stem stiffness rating of eight, Eiffel is also agronomically strong. It also fares well for disease resistance, scoring a seven for stem canker and a six for light leaf spot resistance. But it is its rating of nine for resistance to lodging that is Eiffel’s key advantage.

"Eiffel is the strongest variety currently available," Mrs Gibbs explains. "Its fantastic standing power and an earliness of maturity scoring of six, which is the same as Castille, will improve harvesting efficiency and will also help to spread workloads at harvest time." Eiffel is also late flowering, making it less susceptible to damage caused by late frosts Mrs Gibbs outlines.

United Oilseeds has added Eiffel to its expanding seed portfolio and is recommending it to growers throughout the HGCA’s East and West Region. "Eiffel offers growers all across the country the perfect opportunity to keep one year ahead of the older varieties. Its robust agronomics and yield potential are strong indicators that it will be a very popular variety and one that allows growers an opportunity to try a new variety in complete confidence."