Following a successful year of stem sampling for cabbage stem flea beetle in oilseed rape, the survey will continue this season to glean further insights, including the option of ‘DIY’.
Last year, United Oilseeds worked alongside NIAB to conduct the work, with around 200 farmers submitted plant samples. These were dissected by NIAB’s Colin Peters, helping to build a clearer national picture of larval pressure ahead of harvest.
To continue the effort to better understand what’s happening inside OSR crops and how CSFB pressure varies between regions and seasons, the survey is taking place again. However this time, growers don’t have to rely solely on national surveys to gain that insight.
According to NIAB, with a few simple tools and time in the field, it’s possible for farmers to assess larval levels themselves. Furthermore, a demonstration can be viewed in this video: https://youtu.be/g0rIZZjnB6I
Kit list
To undertake the DIY stem sampling, growers will require:
- Black buckets from a well-known DIY store (avoid orange – it’s harder to spot larvae once they’ve dropped)
- A small piece of chicken wire
- A little water
- A small amount of washing-up liquid
- Some OSR plants
Why it matters
Last year’s survey largely confirmed lower cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) pressure, aligning with autumn yellow trap monitoring, and helping to present a more positive picture for OSR plantings.
While this year may show a similar trend, it may also highlight higher pressure in certain regions. By utilising a simple, robust monitoring approach, this helps growers to take a pragmatic view of crop potential and management decisions.
Equally, on-farm sampling builds knowledge over time – by repeating assessments each season, growers can benchmark fields, varieties and establishment approaches.
