With confidence in UK oilseed rape steadily increasing, growers should stay focused on the basics of crop management, with strong establishment remaining a key priority, says Agrii seed key account and performance manager Ian Davy.

He advises growers to use previous on-farm performance as the starting point for 2026 drilling decisions and not to dismiss proven varieties simply because they are no longer on the AHDB Recommended List.

"Seed breeders have done amazing work over recent years and varieties have never been stronger in terms of yield potential and resilience," Ian explains.

"While the RL features new additions each year, improvements are increasingly incremental.

"Just because a variety is not on the RL doesn't mean it's a poor variety, particularly if they've worked well on farm in previous years and in the context of the management approach being used."

Last year, some of Agrii’s best performing crops came from established names including Vegas and Maverick from NPZ, RGT Kanzzas and LG Adapt.

"Vegas, for example, remains a high gross output hybrid with an excellent disease profile especially against Verticillium stem stripe, and was our third biggest selling variety last year after being introduced three years ago.

"It's a variety continuing to perform well in trials and on-farm too, despite it no longer being on the 2026/27 RL. 

"RGT Kanzzas is also a good example of a variety that did not make it on to the RL, but it's our most vigorous variety and proven to be a top performer on sites with high level of CSFB pressure.

"As well as its rapid growth rate outpacing larval attack, it also has the added advantage of outstanding light leaf spot resistance."

Ian says LG Adapt is another established variety Agrii is backing for 2026 drilling, offering high gross output, good all-round disease resistance, pod shatter resistance and TuYV resistance, with strong autumn development making it well suited to later drilling.

While proven varieties should form the basis of plans, he adds that growers should remain open minded about new options.

"New RL addition KWS Domingos, for example, looks very promising with its strong combination of high gross output, excellent agronomic properties and strong vigour, particularly in the spring to minimise CSFB larval damage.

"It was the highest yielding variety in Agrii’s trials last year and combines high yields with high oil content plus it's suitable for all soil types with a recommendation for the whole of the UK.

"As a general rule, however, we would not suggest putting more than 20% of your OSR area down to new varieties in any one year, particularly in the current circumstances."

Alongside following Agrii’s 8-point integrated agronomy plan to support establishment, growers are also advised to consider establishment schemes linked to their variety choices.

"Agrii will be offering various establishment schemes for 2026 drilling across varieties such as LG Adapt and Auckland, KWS Domingos, DK Exedge and Exsteel, plus RGT Kanzass and Vegas.

"We would urge growers to talk to their Agrii agronomist or seed specialist as early as practical to discuss these and seed availability as overall UK area is expected to grow again this year."