borage

[local_beekeeper]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24555853

 

[Chrisfnvs]

As the farmer is growing it for producing oil. Is it a better plant for that and would it suffer less from pests that OSR, would it be worth my suggesting it to the farmer who's land my bees are on that it might be worth him looking at it as an alterative to OSR???

I have tried suggesting it to a couple of farmers where i have bee`s Doug, the answer come back` it is not commercially viable`, the price is to low due to competition from abroad or it does not fit in with their rotation program, ironically these farmers want me to supply Borage as rent so i have to buy some in !!, i will keep looking for some.

 

[blackie]

Hi I passed over the ground with a rotavater but was a bit patchey should plough first so only bare soil I will be sowing buckwheat this year

 

[rolande]

... or it does not fit in with their rotation program

I think that this is a big part of the reluctance shown by some farmers to grow the crop -if they have OSR in their rotation there can be issues of that crop being swamped out by volunteers from previous borage rotations.


edit: Got to ask, Toby, why the angry face at the top of the thread?!

 

[Heather]

Think Toby thought a problem.. now informed otherwise

 

[beeno]

Hi all,
I have a bit of Borage in my garden. Always happy to see the bees on it, but very invasive and out of place in my case. It only grows to 50-60cm in height, so is that a different plant to the one the farmers grow?

 

[buzz lightyear]

Toby, PM sent

 

[Cazza]

I have been asked to put some of my hives on a field that is going to be sown with borage, when its in flower... Does any one know iff it is a good crop 2 put them on?????/

I wish it was me. I am now suffering from Borage envy.
Cazza

 

[stevebrowning]

Take most of your hives if possible, it's not too early to get a verbal agreement with the farmer also. In my area it flowers all through July/ start September so brilliant for extending the season.
Just make sure you've got enough buckets!

 

[maddydog]

Not seen any fields of it in my part of East Yorkshire but there are strips of volunteers around the field drains so it must have been grown extensively at some point

 

[hallshoney]

I think that this is a big part of the reluctance shown by some farmers to grow the crop -if they have OSR in their rotation there can be issues of that crop being swamped out by volunteers from previous borage rotations.

The reason why borridge is hardly grown these days is there is hardly any market for the oil. Most of the oil is used in cosmetics and this is cheaply sourced from china. British farmers jumped on the borridge band wagon back about 10 years leaving massive stock piles of seed

 

[Hivemaker.]

The reason why borridge is hardly grown these days is there is hardly any market for the oil.

Is it any good for making bio fuel.

 

[hallshoney]

Don't think it is any use for bio fuel as it is a fatty oil originally it was grown as an evening primrose oil substitute but cheap imported oil destroyed the market

 

[rolande]

Rising demand for the specialist oil produced from borage means the company behind the crop is looking to increase its cropping area by 30% next spring.

Borage is a spring-sown crop grown to produce oil which is high in gamma-linolenic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid, explains Nigel Padbury of Technology Crops.

There is a growing demand for high-grade UK borage oil, for use in dietary supplements, as well as ointments to treat skin disorders such as eczema, rosacea and cradle cap. It is also being developed as a non-dairy creamer.

One reason is that UK-produced oil is recognised as being of higher quality than overseas produced. China is a key producer, but the oil has a GLA content of 17%, lower than the 21-22% in UK oil, he explains.......

Taken from The Farmers Weekly, 'Borage area set to rise in 2014' by Richard Allison, Thursday 23 January 2014.

 

[TOBY-3652]

Is it any good for making bio fuel.

at £3500 pound a tonne would be dear biofuel

 

[Hivemaker.]

at £3500 pound a tonne would be dear biofuel

But not much good if they have massive stockpiles of the stuff they can't sell.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

at £3500 pound a tonne would be dear biofuel

But cheaper than what we actually pay for electricity generated by windmills!

 

[Anduril]

A better quality oil is produced in the UK for the cosmetic industry than China

 

[Itchy]

Anyone know the honey yield per acre?

 

[alanf]

But not much good if they have massive stockpiles of the stuff they can't sell.

Apparently 0.415 tonne/ hectare. But it needs swathing, then a combine according to the article below. Wasn't it a windrower as I recall from summer work years ago? http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/farming/10749538.Plea_to_farmers_on_borage_growing/

Anyhoo, OSR is what, a decent yield around 10 tonnes a hectare? Easy to store borage oil I'd have thought, and with a steady if lowish specialist demand there's no need to sell it all this year. Or next.

I'm thinking of growing rice this year.