Although the dry spring caused initial fears for Britain’s rapeseed crop, the latest analysis has revealed UK farmers may see unexpectedly high yields, with consultancy ADAS predicting potential yields of 3.7 tonnes per hectare, higher than last year’s record yields of 3.5 tonnes per hectare.

HGCA today announced that, by the 26th July, 20 per cent of the rapeseed crop had been harvested. The early harvest revealed yields around 10 per cent above the five year average. Heavy rains in the South East meant wheat, barley and oilseed rape harvests were slow to start, but have accelerated rapidly.

HGCA revealed that farmers in France and the UK are seeing such unexpectedly promising results as, "The majority of winter oilseed rape is grown on heavier soil types and appear to be less affected by the dry spring, aided by good crop establishment in the autumn and a lower water requirement compared to cereals."  

However, even though doubts persist about Germany's rapeseed crop, which is usually the largest in Europe, commodity news agency Agrimoney today reported that British rapeseed prices have fallen by around £10 per tonne to £370.