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Oilseed Markets & Marketing

Specialist Contracts - HOLL

With the public and food manufacturers demanding healthier oils, the market for specialist Vistive™ oil contracts is increasing.

Rapes with a High Oleic, Low Linolenic (HOLL) fatty acid oil profile, remove the need for hydrogenation required with double-low types to stabilize and improve the shelf life of frying oils.

As a result, HOLL types have reduced Trans Fatty Acids which have been associate with the build up of bad cholesterol and other negative health effects and avoid the high saturated fat content levels of palm oil.

While the first Vistive™ rapes – e.g. Splendor – were lower yielding and were slower to establish, new types such as V141OL have a much improved yield and oil content, with netter autumn vigour.

Contracts are available from companies including Openfield for Vistive™ rape for harvest 2010 with premiums worth 17.5% over the market value for double-lows or at a flat price premium of £4/t, basis delivery Erith, Kent.

These identify preserved contracts need storage and treatment which can be arranged through the contracting company.

In order to maintain the quality traits needed, volunteer control is critical.  Openfield ‘s experience suggests that crops should be grown on fields that have not had rape in the last three to four years, which have low levels of weeds such as charlock and hedge mustard and are not directly adjacent to a double-low variety.

Giving priority to the crop – as you would a milling wheat –and then working with the merchant on Quality Assurance testing, separate storage and contract movement helps maximise the premium available.

There has been a real step forward with many more acres of V141OL grown this autumn and planned for planting this coming season.  Looking ahead, Openfield, with its agronomy partner UAP, will be trailing the first Vistive™ hybrids that promise yields and oil content on a par with the most popular conventional rapes.