January 6, 2011

Rapeseed in north-eastern France was undamaged by a recent cold spell as a cover of snow protected plants, the nation's technical centre for oilseed crops said.

Harvest potential was "intact after the first big cold," the Paris-based centre, known as Cetiom, said in a report on its website today. "The crops haven't suffered from the first and premature big wave of cold this winter."

"Rapeseed can withstand temperatures of as low as minus 16 to minus 18 degrees Celsius (3.2 to minus 0.4 Fahrenheit) without snow cover", Cetiom said. According to the report, the snow protected the foliage during the recent cold.

"Very proper growth" was seen during the first stage of the rapeseed season, including planting and the start of winter, and less pest pressure than in the previous year, the centre said.