VEGAS OILSEED RAPE HITS THE PERFORMANCE JACKPOT

David Leaper, Technical Manager for Oilseeds with Agrii, comments on the performance in Agrii trials of NPZ UK variety Vegas which has done consistently well in Agrii trials over the past three years. It was selected into their portfolio because of its good disease resistance and exceptional late season stem health seen in all of the NPZ UK varieties.  

“Vegas benefits from a rapid spring growth habit that helps mitigate the effects of CSFB larvae that still proses a huge risk to UK growers especially in earlier sown crops. 

“Agrii are also supporting Vegas with an excellent establishment scheme.  

“Furthermore, Vegas was a top yielding-variety in AHDB Recommended List trials this year when it was compared, for the first time, with the best new candidates coming through the RL system.”   

“NPZ UK’s Maverick is similar to Vegas and benefits from additional TuYV resistance that has proven popular with growers across the UK.  It has performed exceptionally well in Agrii trials and had highest yields of any variety over the past two years.”

Commenting on the excellent Vegas results in Agrii trials, Chris Guest, NPZ UK Managing Director, notes that the performance of Vegas is echoed in the AHDB RL trials this year where it is one of four NPZ UK varieties – Vegas, Maverick, Turing and Murray – in the top eight of the provisional RL 2024 results.

“Our view is that RlmS phoma resistance is a big player in strong stem health, and this clearly has a positive influence on the variety’s good disease scores and, in particular, helps the fight against late season stem disease.”

He adds a final word on late drilling where variety choice is key. “The prerequisite is to choose hybrid varieties, and all NPZ UK oilseed rapes are hybrids – with both Vegas and  Maverick very good in this slot. They are quick to get going with good autumn vigour added to strong spring re-growth.”