During the last years it became difficult to control flea beetles in UK, because of the ban of neonic insecticides and through growing resistances against pyrethroids. Flea beetles are now one of the major reasons for the low oilseed rape yields in 2019 (one of the lowest in the last five years) and further increasing costs up to 79 Mill. £ for the rapeseed farmers last year. A new project is founded by Chap (Crop Health and Protection, an agri-technology center in UK), the agricultural problem-solving body CABI, biostimulant pest control manufacturer Russell Bio Solutions and the seed company H&T Bioseed to develop different formulations of a fungal biopesticide to control flea beetles in oilseed rape at different stages of the crop’s development.

The advising company Strategie Grains reduced its forecast of rapeseed imports for EU27 + UK to 5.9 Mill. tons from 6.3 Mill. tons one month ago. According Strategie Grains, the reduction for 2020/21 based on a decline in the attraction of European prices compared with the world market, these should led to a slow down of the flows of Canadian and Australian supplies towards Europe. Additionally, to the decreased price attractiveness, rapeseed struggles with an expected drop in biodiesel demand due to coronavirus lockdown measures, which led Strategie Grains to trim its outlook for rapeseed crushing in Europe. However, the reduced imports and another small production this year should keep rapeseed supply tough and commodity prices also in 2021 on an attractive level.

Australian Canola farmers benefit from an outstanding production in 2020. The biggest Canola crop since 2017-18 will reach according the latest crop report from Australian Oilseeds Federation (AOF) around 3.34 Mill. tons. Based on better soil moisture through the whole growing season and supporting rainfalls Canola was able establish a promising crop in 2020, with an increase of 31 % vs. 2019 (2.316 Mill. tons). The export potential of non-GMO Canola for the coming month is estimated on 1.8 – 2. Mill. tons, which will flow to the gaps in China respectively European Union.

The Czech Republic's 2020 rapeseed harvest was seen by the Czech Statistics Bureau (CSU) at 1.24 Mill. tons in September, increase by 7,8 % compared to harvest 2019. This result in an average yield of 3,38 t/ha. Supporting factors during the last season were a well-established crop before winter with a robust root neck diameter (we already present that), moderate temperatures during summer 2020 and a longer ripening process through continuous rainfalls. Based on the late precipitation rapeseed was able to compensate and thus exceeding the harvest estimations from August (+ 6.000 t).   

The German rapeseed farmers increased their acreage for harvest 2021 up to 1 – 1.1 Mill. hectares. The positive trend based on surprising higher yields during the last harvest and promising sowing conditions in August respectively September 2020. The official rapeseed yields reached 3.68 t/ha (vs. 3.3 t/ha in 2019), which was mainly influenced by moderate temperatures and late rainfalls in June and July. Thus, Germany is first time the leading country in the European rapeseed market since a couple of years, additionally supported by tough sowing conditions in France or Ukraine.

After 2016 SFO (Swedish Seed and Oil Plant Growers) organize second time the international rapeseed competition Rapsmästaren 2020. This innovative platform for international knowledge exchange gives  40 participants from 7 countries the chance to join with their personal rapeseed technology in order to find the “winning” way in 2020. The Swedish Farmers Group ERFA Halland won the Gold medal with a yield of 7.174kg per hectare and 3.218 kg Oil yield. Key success factor for their success was the Rapool Hybrid Smaragd that lead also in German LSV trials this year. SPZO (Czech association of rapeseed farmers) reached the 2nd place with 6.986 kg/ha respectively 3.217 kg oil yield (46 % oil). They participated with TEMPTATION, which dominate the own SPZO trials in the last 2 years and based on that grew up to one of the market leading hybrids in Czech Republic.