Pests in spring oilseed rape, May 2019

Under dry conditions at crop emergence flea beetles will potentially be damaging the crop up to the 4 leaf stage. Under damper conditions slugs will be the issue. Bear in mind that if you are to use slug pellets that there are guidelines as to how much metaldehyde pellets you can apply, and that no metaldehyde pellets should be allowed to fall within a minimum of 10 metres of any field boundary or watercourse. Ferric phosphate products are good alternatives to metaldehyde.
Flea beetles will need to be managed with a pyrethroid insecticide treatment at early emergence.