UK: Rapeseed planting expected to get off to a good start

Farmers waiting to cut wheat before they can plant next year’s oilseed rape are being advised not to panic.

Good soil moistures and high soil temperatures mean that when they can get on to drill, establishment conditions should be good analysts say.

Last year many were able to drill early but the majority of crops then faced almost a month’s drought and so establishment was often patchy at best.

This year with good moisture and warm soils, growers have another 3-4 weeks left to get their crop in the ground, unless weather conditions take a real U-turn or winter comes early.

Forecasts for improved weather conditions this week and into the first half of September should help farmers to finally get their wheat in and crack on with OSR plantings.

In parts of East Anglia and Kent farmers are 25 per cent through their wheat according to some estimates. But to the west of the A1 and in the north things are still very slow with just 5 to 10 per cent of wheat cut.