Seeking consistent performance in rape varieties

Advising farmers in Norfolk and Suffolk, independent agronomist Dan Robinson has been very impressed with the consistent performance of Astrid over the years and feedback from his growers continues to be positive.

"As far as many of my farmers are concerned, it is the variety’s consistency that has meant that they keep growing Astrid year after year. To be honest it takes some beating!"

"Over a wide range of conditions and over different flowering periods it has always performed consistently well. In HGCA trials in Suffolk, Astrid provides consistent yields every year. Its seed yield is consistently good - on farm last year we were getting yields well over 5 t/ha - but its oil content is marginally below some others." he says.

In addition to high seed yield, Dan points out that another key advantage of Astrid to his growers is its low biomass. "This makes this variety very quick and easy to combine and means that farmers can get through many more acres in a day than with the taller varieties. This saves time and money and you have the certainty of getting the crop safely in the barn."

"Astrid also has excellent Phoma disease resistance that has remained at a consistently high level. In some parts of East Anglia oilseed rape is grown on a 1 in 2 rotation and this is only possible if you are growing a variety with high resistance to this damaging disease. Its Phoma resistance stands out on the HGCA variety list and in tight rotation this is a major factor in selecting Astrid," he says.

"Many of my growers grow Astrid and Castille on their farms. Both are good low biomass varieties and are complementary when it comes to maturity and harvest time."

Dan Robinson says that the main reason that his growers keep growing Astrid is that it is a genuine consistent performer. "It has performed well over a number of very different seasons and hasn’t let us down. Some newer varieties just haven’t shown this high level of consistency when grown commercially. With Astrid you can be certain."

Neil Groom of Grainseed adds that when so many other aspects of farming today are uncertain – the weather, seasonal variations, the exchange rate, the costs of inputs, operating costs – farmers and advisors are looking for reliable varieties that perform consistently. "Added to the HGCA recommended List way back in 2005, Astrid is still one of the most popular and most widely grown rape varieties as it continues to perform year after year. Few of the newer rape varieties can show the same consistency. It remains the firm favourite on farm."

"With Astrid you can be certain that it will yield every year. It still has one of the highest seed yields of 103% on the 2010/2011 HGCA Recommended List. You can also be certain that it will yield wherever it is grown on a wide range of sites and soil types right across the country. Being a low biomass rape variety which stands well, Astrid is easy to manage and to harvest. In a world of uncertainty, you can be certain of Astrid." says Neil.

For further information on the oilseed rape variety Es Astrid or other Grainseed varieties such as Es Alienor, please contact Neil Groom, Technical Manager Grainseed Ltd on 01379 871073 or 07774 720240.