This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Representative oilseed rape yields
25/07/2002
The representative yields for double-zero oilseed rape (OSR) grown on set-aside land in Scotland - which determine the minimum amount of crop to be delivered under the non-food set-aside contracts - were announced today.
Yields for the 2002 harvest for winter and spring sown varieties of oilseed rape for the Scottish LFA and non-LFA regions are as follows:
- Scottish LFA region: Winter OSR yield (tonnes/hectare), 2.18; Spring OSR yield (tonnes/hectares), 0.99; and
- Scotland non-LFA region: Winter OSR yield (tonnes/hectares), 2.28; Spring OSR yield (tonnes/hectare), 1.31.
Growers producing double-zero oilseed rape on set-aside land in more than one yield region must deliver the representative yield for each region. Separate yields have been established in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and details of these can be obtained from the relevant Agriculture Department.
Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 2461/1999, as amended, lays down the rules for growing non-food crops on set-aside land. Amongst other controls, it requires that growers who deliver certain non-food crops under contract should not deliver less than a specified representative yield. These yields are determined by the Member State annually for oilseed rape (except high erucic acid varieties) and for sunflower seeds. Representative yields in Scotland have only been set for double-zero oilseed rape as none of the other specified crops are grown on our non-food set-aside land.
Irrespective of the representative yield requirement, growers are reminded that they are required to deliver their entire crop harvested from the set-aside land to the merchant. Growers who expect that they will be unable to meet the forecast yield specified in their contracts should also immediately contact both their Area Office and their merchant, with a full explanation of why they believe the forecast yield will not be met.
Different representative yields can be established for winter and spring sown crops and on a regional basis. In Scotland, it has been decided to set yields for winter and spring double-zero oilseed rape for the LFA and non-LFA yield regions. Member States are required to inform growers of these yields by 31 July of the year of harvest. SEERAD will thus be writing shortly to all growers with a 2002 non-food contract with details of the 2002 representative yields.
The representative yield determines only the minimum quantity which must be delivered. Growers who expect that they will be unable to meet the relevant representative yield(s) should immediately contact both their local Area Offices and their merchant with a full explanation of why they believe the representative yield will not be met. This means that prompt action can be taken to minimise or avoid penalties where at all possible.
Penalties may be avoided if the shortfall is made up with the same type of crop obtained from elsewhere. Additionally, in exceptional circumstances a shortfall of up to 10 per cent of the representative yield may be permitted. A shortfall of more than this can only be considered where permission has been granted for the forecast yield specified in the contract to be amended downwards prior to harvest. If the yield less any acceptable shortfall is not achieved, and that shortfall is not made up, then the area of set-aside land claimed will be reduced in line with the percentage shortfall and financial penalties will be applied.