More profitable oats in the West Country justifies persistent mildew protection

UK - May 10, 2006

Good forward contract prices at autumn drilling, improving current prices following a hard winter across Northern Europe, and an increased demand across the world because of a strengthening image as a healthy food image.  Oats are on a comeback, particularly in the west of the UK. 

This season, the UK’s oat acreage has increased by 38%.  It all started last autumn with good forward contract prices making it a viable contender as a break crop.  But with a high percentage winterkill across Northern Europe the price improved even more, with a current figure of £88/t – well above winter wheat.  And prices are expected to increase further as global demand for oats as a healthy food takes off.   

By far the greatest area grown is still the conventional winter oat.  The well-proven Gerald holds just over 50% of the national acreage, despite it being some 3-4% lower yielding than SW Dalguise at 27% of the market.  But naked oats are increasing in popularity particularly as a high quality feed in poultry rations. Hendon now accounts for the third largest acreage at 8%.  

Average yields of 8.5 t/ha for husked oats means gross returns of up to £750/ha.   With seed, nitrogen, P & K, herbicide and fungicide costs at around £145/ha, this leaves a healthy £605/ha gross margin, and a good entry for winter wheat without the higher risk of slug problems associated with following winter rape. 

So where’s the downside?  Unfortunately all winter oat varieties are susceptible to mildew.  No variety is rated higher than 6 on the HGCA Recommended List.  SW Dalguise, the highest yielding winter oat is rated at just 3, and the most popular Gerald is only 4.  

ADAS Rosemaund in Herefordshire has been trialling oat agronomy for several years.  “Based on past experience, we continue to recommend Fortress (quinoxyfen) as the basis for reliable early season oat mildew control,” says ADAS research scientist Antony Wade.   

“We recommend 0.3 l/ha at GS30-32.  Flag leaf treatments are based on a triazole to control the possibility of crown rust, and we may add a further dose of Fortress at this point if necessary.” 

Liz Tomkinson, technical officer for Dow AgroSciences, says “Fortress can be used on oats at between 0.15 - 0.3 l/ha depending on the susceptibility of the variety and the persistence required. We would recommend adding fenpropimorph at a quarter rate to provide some contact curative action if mildew exceeds 10% on leaves at application.” 

The HGCA data on general fungicide treated and untreated yields shows an average yield response of 12.5% for Gerald and 21% for SW Dalguise, representing an increase of £93.70/ha and £157.50/ha respectively from fungicide treatment based on a yield of 8.5t/ha at current prices.   

These responses are predominantly due to mildew control and represent the highest percentage response based on £/ha.  Wheat fungicide responses are on average a little higher but this is from a complex of diseases at almost double the fungicide input and cost.   

Spring oats have given an average of 8% yield response to fungicide use, with the most popular variety Frith returning an 8.5% response to disease control, despite being rated at 8 for mildew resistance.