Organic Oilseed Rape? But, not the first to grow it in the UK as declared on the video! see comments

[@joetaylordrums]

Love your explanations John. Good luck with the crop.

[@JohnPawseySPF]

Thank you Joe!!

[@victorleforestier]

how is it going by now John ?

[@JohnPawseySPF]

Hi Victor. It’s going really well still - sorry for not putting an update up! I will do one after Christmas to show how it’s got through the winter. Very best. John

[@fermewilmotsagriculturebio3434]

Hi John, how do you plan on dealing with post harvest regrowth? Years ago we were sold an oilseed type cover crop that was supposed to freeze at 0c, it didn't and despite mulching and ploughing it under a couple heads popped out here and there and seeded out, we now still see it popping up in every spring crop to this day.

[@JohnPawseySPF]

Gosh, I was hoping that a frost would kill the fenugreek and the beseem clover. Thank you for that information, I will keep an eye on it!

[@duncanross5809]

I’m very interested with this one. My cattle are actually grazing a berseem clover based catch crop right now which has several other species of clover too. It seems they thrive on the berseem clover and they got very annoyed at me when I moved them onto a grass field to rest the clovers. I guess if the crop fails you will have some good forage for the sheep.

[@JohnPawseySPF]

Thank you Duncan. As you say, all is not lost if the rape fails!

[@jimgannon1917]

How’s the osr doing now?

[@JohnPawseySPF]

Really well! I must put up another clip!

[@Dan.Whiteford]

That will indeed be interesting to watch what happens and how you go on with it however flea beetle issues have in the main driven this crop off the menu for the vast majority of farms in this area.

[@JohnPawseySPF]

Everything is crossed!

[@rhofford]

are you worried about GMO cross pollination from neighbouring Canola fields? that is the challenge with growing organic OSR here in Canada.

[@JohnPawseySPF]

There is no GMO oilseed rape in the UK at present.

[@andrewcheetham1416]

No problem John.

[@adambrezani2311]

Hi John! I want to ask, what have you used for broadcasting? It seems like, the field was rolled afterwards.

[@JohnPawseySPF]

We used a seeder box on the back of our Einbock harrow and then we did roll it afterwards. Just had a really nice rain on it so fingers crossed!

[@adambrezani2311]

@@JohnPawseySPF What was the reason for not using Cameleon for drilling? There is a small seed cultivar of faba bean that can be intercropped with the oilseed rape and is not frost hardy. In the case of mild winter, you could hoe it out in the spring. We want to trial that with winter wheat this autumn. However I really like the idea of growing a mixture, is that Andy Howard inspiration?

[@JohnPawseySPF]

@@adambrezani2311 Because it's got beseem clover, fenugreek and oilseed rape I felt that it should be randomly scattered to smother weeds better. Also it would give the plants more space than in a narrow row - I'll probably live to regret it though and wish that I could hoe it! It just felt right at the time. The fenugreek and beseem clover are not frost hardy and so "should" be killed off in the winter leaving the rape. No, it wasn't inspired by Andy although he is a hugely inspiring farmer! It was really the suggestion of Copes Seeds who I am growing it under contract for. I really hope that it works as you can't buy organic rapeseed oil grown in the UK......

[@adambrezani2311]

@@JohnPawseySPF Thank you for an extensive answer. Hope it works out for you. I really like the easiness of establishing it and keep us informed, please.

[@trevorrix8018]

Great! I have been wondering for ages whether there could be a market for organic oilseed rape. What's next -- organic sugar beet?

[@danielrolfsmeyer]

In Germany we allready grow organic sugar beets for at least three different big companies. It should be at least about 3.000 hectares of organic sugar beets.

[@trevorrix8018]

@@danielrolfsmeyer Thanks, that is interesting. So, is there a good market for organic sugar in Germany?

[@mcagris]

John I don't know if you are aware of the SOCAN project, you may have to re-phrase your comment about being the first in the UK, we successfully harvested Organic Osr in 2019 and 2020 i also believe there is some grown in England and Ireland.

[@JohnPawseySPF]

Thank you so much for telling me it seems that my claim is woefully wrong! My only claim will have to be reduced to the first organic crop in Suffolk! Thank you for letting me know and yes, I will definitely look up the SOCAN project.

[@MistressOP]

have you tried out pasture cropping? having large flocks of sheep take pasture down extremely low then coming in 8 days later and clipping. Then planting no-till directly into the pasture. Then harvesting the grain high. something they are doing in Australia. you can't do it every year. with a high-value crop like amaranth, or quinoa. might be worth it. fonio might always work well. If you knock the pasture back hard twice.

[@JohnPawseySPF]

Thank you so much for that suggestion - yes I must look into that! Very good to hear from you again!!

[@mcagris]

Tried that in Scotland old tired ley grazed hard sown about 6 weeks ago but its struggling.

[@harrybowen3285]

Hi there, what is “clipping”? Is that nibbling off the new tillers with sheep again? Cheers

[@JohnPawseySPF]

@@harrybowen3285 That is the dreaded "flea-beetle" which decimates crops in this part of the UK. The fenugreek is supposed to put them off.....

[@paulfreeman2259]

Hope it goes well

[@JohnPawseySPF]

Thank you Paul!