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It's a fertiliser squeeze
18 Jun 2004
A severe fertiliser shortage has slowed an all-out effort by NSW farmers to finish sowing "make-or-break" Winter crops. Demand for fertiliser is so high that farmers are paying at least $100 a tonne more than at this time in 2003 - if they can find supplies. Some farmers are also trading reserve supplies amongst themselves, or sowing on limited fertiliser applications.
The demand is particularly high for MAP (mono-amonium phosphate) and DAP (di-amonium phosphate) fertilisers.
The acute shortages mostly relate to the drought. Long-term forecasts of a dry Winter reduced crop prospects, so farmers were reluctant to order their usual fertiliser and chemical requirements.
Australia's largest fertiliser manufacturer and distributor, Incitec Pivot, insists however that all its customer orders will be met, with only small delays at some locations. Supplies are being transported to NSW cropping areas from other regions where demand hasn't been so concentrated.
The Land, 17/6/04.
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