The Department of Agriculture has released this year’s Winter Oilseed Rape Recommended List. As we come closer to harvest 2021, the attention will soon turn to winter oilseed rape drilling.

Oilseed rape markets experienced a significant rally this year and it’s possible that we could see an increase in area for 2022.

Therefore, it’s important to consider your variety options early this year. Four varieties have dropped off the Recommended List since 2020, namely Alizze, Dariot, PX113 and SY Harnas.

The variety DK Expansion has been added to the 2021 Recommended List as a Provisionally Recommended variety.

Anastasia (Recommended)

Anastasia is a conventional, good yielding variety. Its early vigour is ranked as moderate and it is the shortest variety on the Recommended List.

It has very good lodging resistance and good stem stiffness. Anastasia is late to flower and has an early maturity rating.

It has good light leaf spot resistance and shedding resistance. The Irish agent for this variety is SeedTech Ltd.

Aquila (Recommended)

Aquila is a hybrid, high-yielding variety. Its early vigour is moderate and has good lodging resistance and stem stiffness.

It is early to flower and has an early maturity rating and also has good light leaf spot and shedding resistance scores. The Irish agent for this variety is SeedTech Ltd.

DK Expansion (Provisionally recommended)

This is the first year that DK Expansion has come onto the Recommended List, with a provisional recommendation.

This hybrid variety is the highest yielding on the Recommended List and its early vigour is good. This is the tallest variety on the list, but it has good lodging resistance and stem stiffness.

It is late to flower and has an early maturity rating. It has good light leaf spot and very high shedding resistance scores. The Irish agent for this variety is Goldcrop Ltd.