FM Direct:
| Save on Spring Fertiliser (September 07) |
Members should consider securing spring 2008 fertiliser requirements now for pre Christmas delivery, according to First Milk Direct’s Neil Pullar. Already over half of all arable farmers have bought their nitrogen for next year, choosing to secure the prices early against what still looks like a rising market.Last Minute“Taking delivery before the spring also means you’ve got the fertiliser when you want it. Spring 2007 saw many farmers buying at the last minute and not receiving their fertiliser on time due to logistics issues caused by the sheer volume of late ordering,” advises Neil. High demand for nitrogen and phosphate in the US to fuel the surge in biofuel crops will keep the market firm. Ammonium nitrate is £20 a tonne higher than this time last year and prices are unlikely to fall between now and the Spring while phosphate and potash prices are now at all time highs and are set to continue to climb. "One example would be blended 20.10.10 which last summer was around £148, then rose to £161 just a few weeks ago and has now reached £172. There is no reason to believe prices will not exceed £190 by Spring 2008 with some commentators predicting it will exceed £200,” warns Neil. Soil Indicies“As well as achieving the best price for spring fertiliser requirements, it is always important to ensure that you are using fertiliser in the correct quantities. So if you are not already aware of your soil indices, it would be prudent to analyse the relevant fields and fertilise accordingly ensuring that you are taking into account and making the best use of any muck and slurry,” he advises. First Milk Direct will offer free soil sample analysis with any fertiliser order for spring 2008 placed by end November 2007. For further details contact your area manager or First Milk Direct on 0141 847 6817. |
