Ditch the Date

#OSRReboot

Top 10 cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) management strategies for oilseed rape (Draft v2)

1. Ditch the date
   • Avoid the traditional end-of-August sowing dates (which are often the worst times for CSFB migration).
   • Go with the conditions so wait for moisture.
   • Sow early (early to mid-August) to maximise tolerance to adult feeding (note that these crops may have higher larval loads later in the season).
   • Sow late (mid-September onwards) to minimise adult damage post-peak-migration and reduce larval load; however the plants must reach a suitable size to reduce overwinter losses to frost.
   •  Note there do tend to be yield downsides of sowing from mid-September, but that generalisation does depend on how late the crop is sown and how early frosts arise.

Further information

x This paper does show that yields do tend to reduce in crops sown from mid-Sept but not always by much, and with the development of new varieties may also be out of date..

y Link to an expert

z Link to academic paper

Back to the Top 10 strategies for managing cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) in oilseed rape