FIELD TRIALS of Syngenta's oilseed rape variety, SY Harnas, has delivered a 23% higher than average yield, compared to all hybrids in a Scottish on-farm field scale trial in Banffshire, harvested on August 18.

The exceptional yield of 5.7 t/ha gave a gross output of more than £1830/ha and this commercial field scale trial proved the variety's place as the highest gross output variety, according to Syngenta.

Its extra yield was worth an extra £575/ha over the average and £300/ha more than any other variety in the trial, including the region’s recommended reference clubroot resistant hybrid.

This matched income from a winter wheat crop yielding more than 14 tonnes per ha, said Syngenta's area manager, Phil Smith. “Oilseed rape still has an extremely important role in arable crop rotations, with significant agronomic benefits and a positive contribution to farm output and profitability.”

Phil highlighted the trials, involving 1ha blocks of each variety, grown by MC Thomson and Sons, at Buckie, Banffshire, represent real farm conditions and were managed under a typical agronomy programme. Sown on August 28, last year, the crop was harvested on August 18.

“Growers can be confident that the results are comparable of the variety’s potential under on-farm growing conditions in Scotland and the north of England,” he said. “It has once again demonstrated consistent performance and how well suited it is for the region’s climate and conditions.”

He said it was its compact winter growth habit, that is particularly suited to the region’s growing conditions. This minimises damaging effects of winter die back and the plant’s canopy structure and hybrid vigour triggers early green leaf development to drive yields.

“The whole growing cycle for oilseed rape is about building the canopy to convert more sunlight energy into oil in the final few weeks before harvest,” he pointed out. “Further north we have the greatest potential to harness the longer day length into higher yields."