Adverse weather and phytosanitary conditions this marketing year have increased the costs of growing rapeseed. This was reported by the head of the Lanovenka Agroholding Vitaliy Lanovenko (Vinnytsia region) in an interview with The Ukrainian Farmer magazine.
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“This year, the cost of rapeseed is very high. It seems that it will be the most expensive crop to grow. In the fall, the moth caused a lot of damage, in the spring there were also many pests, so we had to carry out three insecticide treatments. Twice in the fall, we conducted desiccation. And the preparations are not cheap: Karamba Turbo, Folikur, and in the spring – Impact T. In general, I use quality plant protection products, mostly original ones, except for a post-patent insecticide,” – noted Vitaliy Lanovenko.
To help rapeseed and wheat recover from stress after frost in the spring, the farmer applies amino acids and micronutrients. These are unplanned treatments that increase the cost of technology. According to the agronomist, usually the yield compensates for the costs, and rapeseed was harvested at 5-5.4 t/ha, but this year, it probably won’t be the case.
“In all my farming practice, I don’t remember rapeseed suffering so much, so severely reducing its yield, even though I strictly follow the technology, provide nutrition and protection. All because of the winter-spring temperature fluctuations: it was warm in January, so the rapeseed plants were growing, in February, within a few days, there was a frost of -17…-18 degrees Celsius, then in March, it suddenly warmed up, and then – frosts. Of course, plant hardening is important for successful wintering – I did everything necessary for this. I sowed part of the field on July 27-28, a week after the rain – the second part. So, there was a sufficient period for vegetation. However, there was a lack of precipitation – August and September were dry, and rapeseed did not develop much in the fall. But after the October rains, it entered winter in an optimal condition,” – said Mr. Vitaliy.