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A large field of oilseed rape

The trade name for the refined oil of the oilseed rape plant is 'Canola' but the term is sometimes used to refer to the whole plant. Oilseed rape is described as being a very useful crop, the seed containing about 42% of oil, and the meal which is left after extracting the oil contains about 42% of protein which is used as animal feed. The seeds measure approximately 5 mm in diameter and are black. They are sown either in August/September - the plant overwinters, flowers in spring and is harvested in July/August - or in March/April, flowering later than winter types and being harvested in August/ September. Several species of birds, including the Linnet (a farmland bird in decline), take advantage of rape crops for food whereas others, including Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting, use it for nesting. Much of the honey produced in Great Britan comes from oilseed rape.