Frontier Agriculture’s industry leading oilseed rape de-risking partnership has re-opened for harvest 2026 with additional support for companion crops.

First launched to market in 2024, the scheme ensures growers who fulfil the necessary requirements only pay for the oilseed rape crop that survives through the initial establishment window.

New for this year, however, is the addition of greater risk management support for companion crops too.

“This comes following the recent closure of the Government’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme,” explains Frontier sustainability manager, Jim Knightbraid, “which historically awarded payments for companion cropping under the IPM3 action.

“This was an important incentive for growers who wanted to include oilseed rape in the rotation, as companion crops can be a valuable tool for aiding establishment in the ongoing fight against cabbage stem flea beetle.”

With the funding no longer available, Frontier’s advisory teams recognised that the level of risk around successful oilseed rape establishment could increase for some farms.

Jim continues: “We want to ensure our customers are able to make the most of the strong market opportunities that are available, and to do that, oilseed rape needs to be a commercially sustainable option on farm.

“Our unique position in the market means we can widen our offer of support to fill that funding gap for companion cropping – it’s the right thing to do to ensure growers have access to the solutions they need.”

Under the expanded scheme, Frontier will:

• Remove the upfront cost of oilseed rape and accompanying companion crop seed.

• Waive the oilseed rape and companion crop seed cost for any hectares that fail to establish by 31st October 2025.

• Set the payment date for companion crop seed and oilseed rape seed which successfully establishes to 12 months following delivery.

• Provide a range of industry-leading hybrid double low and companion crops to choose from.

• Offer flexibility in how to market and price the oilseed rape produced by the enrolled hectares.

These benefits include upfront cost savings of approx. £90/ha on oilseed rape seed and £33/ha on the associated companion crop seed. The scheme also includes a non-defaultable produce-of-area contract with a range of marketing options, as well as the option to upgrade into a privately funded programme that rewards more sustainable farming practices, subject to availability.

Last year saw more than 3,300ha entered into the scheme, with 10% of growers claiming for some or all of their crop area. While the season was generally a more positive one in terms of OSR establishment, with an overall crop failure rate of just 3.9% of the enrolled hectares it meant those growers had the guarantee of their seed costs being covered through the partnership, providing some protection against the usual financial risk and therefore peace of mind.

As before, the scheme also ensures growers have access to advice from Frontier’s specialists across agronomy, environmental crop management and grain marketing.

“Oilseed rape is an important part of the rotation, but it is a crop that needs careful, considered management if it’s to succeed. We want to ensure growers are supported as much as possible in terms of being able to access practical, on-farm expertise too,” says Jim.

Growers on the scheme will be able to take advice on everything from oilseed rape variety selection through to establishment, inputs and marketing.

Committing to wider industry support for OSR

As well as its de-risking programme, Frontier is also part of the cross-industry OSR Reboot initiative, created to compile more support and guidance for growers to grow profitable, sustainable oilseed rape crops.

Alongside other organisations and research bodies, Frontier collaborated with the AHDB to compile a list of cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) management strategies.

Ongoing, the AHDB is advocating for increased research, with a number of projects set to look at novel treatments and integrated pest management strategies. Frontier will contribute to this work directly with dedicated trials as part of its own nationwide research and development programme.

More information about the OSR Reboot can be found here.

Growers interested in Frontier’s de-risking partnership can commit via their Frontier farm trader or agronomist, or can express their interest by emailing info@frontierag.co.uk or calling 0800 227445.