Less OSR?

[mintmoth]

From the top of my local hill here in the East Midlands I can't see any agricultural land that looks to be OSR this year, where normally there would be plenty of fields growing it. Has anyone else noticed less land put to OSR?

Found this table on the AHDB site which would indicate the whole country is growing less this year. (EBS = early bird survey)

 

[Newbeeneil]

Certainly in the location of my southern apiaries, which are normally my main suppliers of spring set honey, there is a distinct lack of OSR planting. One apiary that normally is surrounded by yellow fields seems completely devoid of any planting within two miles.

 

[Jimmy]

That fits in with what I have seen on S E Worcs/Warks border. No OSR and fewer fields of autumn sown crops. Dropped some honey off to the farmer who owns one of my apiary sites recently and he is growing maize this year, planning to sow in May. Fields have been and continue to be too wet for any earlier seed drilling.

 

[Beefriendly]

General trend for farmers at the moment. Since the ban on neonics the costs of all the additional sprayings has brought the profit margins down. Also we had a really bad wet autumn which meant many couldn't plant their OSR.
Fortunately I have one apiary that has about 60 acres of the stuff about 300 yards away from them. It should flower mayish time...about perfect for the bees.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Speaking to friend farmers South Shropshire area much the same as what others have said.. A wet autumn for planting and some that has been sown has gone rotten in the fields.
There also opting for maze mainly for silage mix.

 

[Ian123]

Same here a couple of regulars no longer growing it, I’ve found another though.

 

[gmonag]

Same story in Suffolk. My village was surrounded last year, this year not one field to be seen.

 

[enrico]

Speaking to friend farmers South Shropshire area much the same as what others have said.. A wet autumn for planting and some that has been sown has gone rotten in the fields.
There also opting for maze mainly for silage mix.

Yep, surrounded by nectarless maize. Even OSR is preferable to such a sterile crop!
E

 

[Curly green finger's]

Yep, surrounded by nectarless maize. Even OSR is preferable to such a sterile crop!
E

There's one consolation.. The grazing fields are looking green, it might be a really good year for clover, dandilions

 

[MerryBee]

I do have OSR near me again this year but its looking very poor. It has just about been drowned by months of incessant rain. Last year it was in flower before the end of March. No chance of that this year.
And the farmer says this may be the last year he grows it. They dont have anything effective against flea beetle now that neonic seed dressings are banned.

 

[Beefriendly]

There's one consolation.. The grazing fields are looking green, it might be a really good year for clover, dandilions

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of clover pollen reported in the samples I send off to the the National honey survey. Essentially my July honey from 2 different apiaries was mainly bramble and clover...damn good nice tasting honey.

 

[Millet]

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of clover pollen reported in the samples I send off to the the National honey survey. Essentially my July honey from 2 different apiaries was mainly bramble and clover...damn good nice tasting honey.

What happened to that big microscope on your Table. ?.. did the batteries die on you.. lol

 

[Beefriendly]

What happened to that big microscope on your Table. ?.. did the batteries die on you.. lol

Too lazy......all that prepping....then spend hours doing size and shape comparisons ....when honey survey does it for free.....No competition...LOL

 

[Millet]

.Just messing.. i know you a more than capable of doing it yourself..

 

[Erichalfbee]

There's one consolation.. The grazing fields are looking green, it might be a really good year for clover, dandilions

Same here
I hope so, anyway as all the early forage has been rained off

 

[enrico]

No grazing fields here. All cattle now in barns. Just maize,maize,maize. Top soil washed away, Cattle poo in millions of trailers taken and thrown on top to get some nutrients back for more maize!
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

No grazing fields here. All cattle now in barns. Just maize,maize,maize. Top soil washed away, Cattle poo in millions of trailers taken and thrown on top to get some nutrients back for more maize!
E

Are you missing the Marches?

 

[Curly green finger's]

Are you missing the Marches?

I think he is.
A question for all I've runny honey (summer) and it's now only crystalizing.
It has a very smooth texture is this mainly clover?
Another thing my jars of chunk honey cristalized really quickly.
I was selling chunk at Christmas that was cryalized and folk really like it.

 

[Murox]

Could well be clover. Both white Clover and Bramble tend to be “white”, both occur around July and both are slow to granulate. Similarly, Borage is pale and slow to granulate, as is Rosebay willow herb – both July (ish).

 

[Ian123]

I think he is.
A question for all I've runny honey (summer) and it's now only crystalizing.
It has a very smooth texture is this mainly clover?
Another thing my jars of chunk honey cristalized really quickly.
I was selling chunk at Christmas that was cryalized and folk really like it.

Am guessing you made a batch of chunk? As soon as you put anything into a jar of runny honey it will crystallise faster than a jar of just honey. You are putting bit/particles into the honey that aid any crystals to start.