Rapeseed production fell to a 41-year low in the UK in 2024 and another challenging growing season led to a further 17% fall in area for 2025, according to AHDB reports.
Cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) has largely been behind the decline, while the sustainable farming incentive (SFI) brought increased competition to the crop.
But with the close of SFI this year and lower CSFB pressure last autumn, will we see farmers making a return to the crop?
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United Oilseeds is one firm that’s fighting back, encouraging regrowth of the industry, with its OSR Reboot initiative.
“Our aim is clear; we want to give farmers the confidence and tools to grow OSR again and to grow it well,” says managing director James Warner.
Led by Niab and jointly funded by Hutchinsons, Agrii, and United Oilseeds, the collaborative initiative aims to share research-backed best practice principles that give growers the confidence to commit to the crop.
“There’s no question that OSR remains the best break crop, but we must equip growers with the right tools to get crops established and managed successfully,” says James.
Rebuilding confidence
“Although we’ve had so much success in the past, we do wonder whether we’ve become a little complacent.
“Across much of Europe, it’s still seen as the number one crop in the rotation, and everything else is built around it. We need to rebuild that level of confidence in the UK.”
The biggest challenge is shifting farmers’ mindsets around growing OSR again, he explains.
“We’re currently working on multiple streams with growers, agronomists, plant breeders, researchers and the wider supply chain, and will continue to share details in the months ahead,” he adds.
“Things like the national CSFB larvae survey and success stories of farmers who continue to grow profitable OSR crops can all help restore confidence.”
However, climate change is one pressure which cannot be controlled.
“Shifting weather patterns, unpredictable rainfall, and milder winters are already reshaping the growing season, so we’re focused on building resilience, with better varietal selection and establishment techniques,” says James.
“We’re under no illusion; this won’t be an overnight fix. But with collaboration, consistency and commitment, we believe our actions and commitment for change will be the turning point for this vital, home-grown crop.”
For a lot of farmers, the upfront costs of OSR make it unviable, given the risk of poor establishment.
“Investing in good establishment, early nutrition, and pest control, can be a barrier,” says James.
“That’s why we’re exploring solutions that potentially lower the initial investment required, making the crop more accessible and reducing financial risk for growers.”
Breeder schemes
Some breeders have introduced schemes where farmers can get either all or some of their money back on seed if the crop fails.
“This has given a particular grower of mine confidence,” says David Leaper, seed technical specialist at Agrii.
“This year his crop looks stunning, after two years of lacking motivation while looking at patchy crops. He had no pride in what he was doing, so almost quit until he saw the scheme – that definitely helps offset the risks.”
Another initiative – the national stem larvae count – includes more than 200 farmers across the UK. Growers send OSR stem samples to Niab, in order to investigate in-season adult CSFB impacts.
Agrii is participating in the larvae count, with 50 agronomists providing samples alongside farmers.
“I’m getting a gut feeling that the larvae numbers have dropped to a lower level than previous years,” says David.
This season’s crop
OSR that established well this year is looking good, even those areas hit by pigeons, he adds.
“Some farmers are seeing CSFB larvae in the stems and petioles. But with the good weather at the start of April, the crops are growing away from them, although the life cycle is still there.”
David has been looking at the relationship between CSFB and different OSR varieties’ growth rates.
“There is a positive correlation between growth rate and the crop’s ability to grow away from flea beetle larvae. To me, growth habits are just as important as yield and disease.
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“Varieties like Kanzzas, Vegas and Maverick are all on the Recommended List and show this ability to grow away,” he explains.
However, while the industry is focusing on CSFB, the mood on farm seems to be broader than that, notes David.
“It boils down to the fact that with commodity prices as they are, you’d need to achieve about 3t/ha to earn money from OSR crops.”
And that’s far from guaranteed – although this year’s crops are looking promising.
“If farmers have good yields, then those who planted this year are likely to grow again,” he explains.
“Those who I have met that have OSR crops in now are most likely going to stick with it.”
Despite its difficulties, David is positive about the future for OSR.
“Twenty years ago, it was an easy, low-cost crop to grow. Now it is more specialised, but I would hope those who are growing it will stick with it and grow in confidence.
“As for those who stopped growing OSR due to SFI, they may even be tempted back after the closure, but this is dependent on the success of this year’s harvest.”
OSR profit prospects
When OSR is given the right attention, it can be the most profitable crop on farm, says Graham Redfern, partner at The Andersons Centre.
“But the market has been relatively volatile; prices rose in the spring and then came back down again off the back of [US] tariff news,” says Graham.
November’s 2025 futures price for Paris rapeseed currently sits at €478.50/t (£407) compared with €514/t (£438) in November 2024.
“There will always be a global demand for oils; I am positive about that, but it will probably never return to what it once was, which means we’ll likely have to import,” he says.
Farmers cannot cope with the risk of writing off an entire crop, notes Graham.
“It’s a higher input crop, costing about £582/ha in variable costs, whereas a crop like beans costs around £360/ha, so there’s less is invested at an early stage.”
Farmers also need to consider how well OSR fits into the arable rotation.
“It’s one of the first crops off, allowing time for a winter wheat to be sown. In terms of machinery, it’s straightforward; once you have your combinable crop kit you’re there, unlike potatoes and sugar beet.”
As for the long-term outlook, for the area to go up to anywhere near where it was five or even 15 years ago, there needs to be a tool to manage cabbage stem flea beetle, he adds.
“But for those farmers that have stuck with it, the prices have been good and can easily become good again.”
Graham says so far this year OSR crops are looking good, subject to a drop of rain in the coming week or two in most regions, and it could be a positive year for those who are growing OSR.
