Future of UK winter oilseed rape production James Clarke & Susan Twining ADAS UK Ltd Prepared for: Crop Protection Association Agricultural Industries Confederation July 2009

Key messages Winter oilseed rape provides a major benefit to UK agriculture Major benefit to farmers’ rotations Gross margin, spreads fixed costs and provides weed control Alternatives will result in loss of profitability Spring crops already viewed as less profitable and unacceptable options Farmers and agronomists must act now to ensure this valuable crop is still available Adopt best practice and participate in stewardship Protect water from herbicides and other pesticides

Skip to… presentation map Future of UK winter oilseed rape production UK Oilseed Rape Production Area & importance Production & Prices Markets OSR & pesticides Pesticide Use Threats to OSR pesticide availability Impacts Farming Weed & Pest Control Rotations Margins Trading Inputs Outputs Protein Biodiesel Environment Carbon Nitrogen Biodiversity Summary

Contents UK Oilseed Rape Production Threats to OSR pesticide availability Impacts On farming On trading On the environment Home Back to map

UK oilseed rape production Area and importance Prices Uses Home Back to map

Year Total OSR area (thousand ha) Trends in UK OSR area (winter & spring) Source: Defra statistics Home Back to map

Winter / Spring split Source: Defra statistics Home Back to map

Oilseed rape in the rotation Home Back to map

Oilseed rape in the rotation Home Back to map

Oilseed rape is an important break crop Home Back to map

Source:HGCA Home Back to map

Year Yield (tonnes / ha) OSR yield trends Source: Defra statistics Home Back to map

UK oilseed production and prices Source: Defra statistics Home Back to map

UK oilseed production and prices Source: Defra statistics Home Back to map

OSR markets in UK Home Back to map

Vegetable oil prices Home Back to map

Protein prices Home Back to map

Oilseed rape and pesticides Pesticide use Threats to pesticide availability Home Back to map

% weight of active and % area Home Back to map

% of weight of actives by pesticide type on oilseed rape Home Back to map

% of crop area treated with pesticides Home Back to map

Threats to pesticide availability EU legislation Thematic Strategy Revision of 91/414/EEC Achievement of Annex 1 listing by 2010 Water Framework Directive (WFD) Resistance Commercial pressures on existing and new products Pesticide manufacturers Food industry Home Back to map

Oilseed rape active substances at risk Revision of 91/414/EEC Annex 1 listingWFD – chemical WFD - ecological cyproconazole prochloraz carbetamide napropamide propachlor quinmerac tau fluvalinate zeta- cypermethrin metaldehyde carbetamide clopyralid glyphosate metaldehyde metazachlor propyzamide carbendazim cyproconazole flusilazole glufosinate metconazole tebuconazole carbendazim chlorothalonil chlorpyriphos insecticides Home Back to map

Impacts Farming Trading Biodiversity Home Back to map

Impacts on farming Weed and pest control Rotations Margins Home Back to map

Key losses 1 – black-grass control WFD – propyzamide, carbetamide, metazachlor Vital for control of black-grass 40% rape area affected Major impact on yield (36% yield loss) Equivalent to 280,000t loss production Home Back to map

Loss of black-grass control Key implications OSR yields could be reduced by up to 1.2t/ha Up to £390/ha in lost gross margin – 75% Yield loss from competition, increased herbicide costs Few alternative crops on heavy land Rotational implications are even bigger Additional cost in wheat - £300/ha More ploughing, delayed sowing, yield loss, increased herbicide costs Spread of work load and early entry for cereals lost NB where black-grass is a problem Home Back to map

Secondary Loss – up to £300/ha from winter cereal margins Two hits are greater than one! Primary Loss – up to £390/ha from current OSR margins NB where black-grass is a problem Home Back to map

Key losses 2 - slugs WFD & Annex 1 listing – Metaldehyde Already under scrutiny Complete crop losses a possibility if lost Typically 3.5% yield loss Replacements (methiocarb) available – environmental & cost implications Home Back to map

Loss of slug control Average yields could be reduced by up to 0.2t/ha Up to £60/ha in lost gross margin – 15% Alternative methods are more expensive Home Back to map

Other areas of concern Revision of 91/414/EEC – metconazole & tebuconazole Used as PGRs as well as fungicides Can provide additional 0.2 t/ha yield response in absence of disease. On individual crops this could cause losses of £60/ha Home Back to map

Alternative crops Heavy land suited to winter cropping Winter field beans Spring cropping Fallow Home Back to map

Rotational implications Main break crop in arable rotations In black-grass areas provides cleaning crop If black-grass herbicides lost & control reduced; Less favourable in black-grass infested fields Alternative break crops (beans, spring cropping or fallow) may be sought Increase in amount of ploughing to bury weed seeds Home Back to map

Impacts on margin compared to current WOSR on fields with black-grass Home Back to map

Impacts on UK trading Inputs Outputs Protein Biodiesel Home Back to map

Impacts on trading - inputs Value Net change Seed£21 million Redistribution Pesticides£80 million Redistribution Fertiliser £76 million £57 million Based on switch to field beans and linseed Switch to fallow would have larger impacts in all areas Home Back to map

Impacts on trading - outputs Value Crop£400 million Oil£480 million Rape meal £110 million Home Back to map

Sources of protein for livestock Protein Source % Protein12 month moving total ( Mar 09) thousand tonnes % Soya meal44-501,15243 Rape Meal Sunflower Meal Other oilseed meals Field Beans Field Peas Home Back to map

Cost of protein Ex port UK average Spot pricePrice per 1% protein Hypro soya meal £312/t£6.24 Rape meal£167/t£4.77 Home Back to map

Biofuel use in UK 2008/09 Home Back to map

Feedstock for UK biodiesel production Home Back to map

Country of origin of oilseed rape feedstock Home Back to map

Impacts on the environment Carbon emissions Nitrogen Biodiversity Home Back to map

Carbon Emissions Emissions from; Production of raw materials (fertilisers, pesticides, seed) Fuel usage in transport of raw materials & final product Fuel usage in tractors & other farm operations Soils as a result of nitrogen application & residue incorporation From disposal of waste (plastics & packaging) Home Back to map

Carbon impacts of OSR production Large amounts of N applied High emissions involved in production of N N 2 O released as a result of application Nitrogen approximately = 50% of total emissions Home Back to map

Carbon emissions from arable crops Cropt CO 2 e / haYield t/hat CO 2 e / t Winter oilseed rape Winter feed wheat Winter bread wheat Winter beans Spring feed wheat Home Back to map

GHG savings of biodiesel from different feedstock compared to diesel Home Back to map

Autumn nitrate levels by previous crop Home Back to map

Biodiversity Nesting sites reed bunting Feeding on stubbles and crops yellowhammer, linnet But also good for pigeons! Home Back to map

Summary – winter oilseed rape has a… Farming Major benefit to farmers rotations Gross margin, spreads fixed costs and provides weed control Trade Positive effects on UK balance of payments Significant requirement for N and crop protection Environment Good crop cover in autumn to reduce nutrient leaching and soil erosion risks Value to birds by providing feed and nest sites Home Back to map

Future of UK winter oilseed rape production James Clarke & Susan Twining ADAS UK Ltd Prepared for: Crop Protection Association Agricultural Industries Confederation July 2009 Home Back to map