AFTER two disappointing years, oilseed rape crops - particularly hybrids - look well set to give high yields this season, according to NIAB oilseeds specialist, Simon Kightley.

Although there was vigorous early crop growth in 2000, he believes lack of sunshine restricted pod-fill and curtailed yields; last year, excessive rain was the problem.

"This year though, conditions have been excellent," said Mr Kightley. "The long flowering period coincided with a dry spell in April that curtailed nutrient uptake, leading to shorter, less dense crops with a better canopy structure."

May and June saw nitrogen become available for pod development and fill without excessive unnecessary growth.

"As a result, we should see some excellent yields with the hybrids and the more vigorous conventional varieties benefiting most, leading to an upturn in their yield rankings," said Mr Kightley.

He advised growers selecting varieties for drilling this autumn to grasp the nettle and opt for some of the good new high performance material on the Recommended List.

While there were some good new in-breds, he said growers should not write hybrids off, believing they would make a better showing on the Recommended List this year.

He highlights the Disco and Royal hybrids. Royal has good vigour and a gross output just in front of Disco, but it is susceptible to stem canker with a resistance rating of 4. "Royal has done well in untreated trials and its hybrid vigour allows it to overcome this disease weakness," he said.

But Royal has a high glucosinolate content and crushers had last year threatened penalties.

Mr Kightley said Disco was much more attractive at just 1pc below Royal for gross output, helped by its high oil content. Disco also had a low glucosinolate content and was agronomically more sound than Royal.

With a clutch of new higher yielding in-breds the commercial market was wide open, said Mr Kightley.

At 101pc Canberra joined Fortress, a variety which took a 15pc market share last year. With an 8 for light leaf spot and stem canker, no variety could beat it for disease resistance.

Escort was clearly a weaker strawed variety but, if grown at 70 seeds/sq.m. as advised by the breeder, it did have standing ability. Madrigal was also slightly weaker strawed and behind for yield.

Above this clutch of 100-101pc yielding varieties were Shannon on 102pc and Courage and Recital at 105pc and 106pc respectively.

Shannon did not suit the North, having a 3 for light leaf spot, but if these results were removed it was more competitive. Courage was Recommended on appeal. Its variability, ranging from 97 to 117pc over three years, was poor and it had steered a rocky road to get to 105pc, said Mr Kightley, adding: "Perhaps it is one for the North."

Recital was fairly weak strawed, not much better than Escort, and one where growers might consider reducing the seed rate and using PGRs. It has an 8 for stem canker, so is useful for southern growers.

However, at 6pc above any other conventional variety, Winner was the star variety. "It is very early flowering and quite tall and on paper has no star agronomic characteristics, but with the longest pod-set period of any variety it certainly provides high yields," said Mr Kightley. "While its yields are based on just two years' work we have our fingers crossed that Winner can maintain its top-yielding performance."