Fertiliser Price Tracker

[teslacoils]

Economics wise, I'm thinking that third cut grass is dubious and I will allocate that fert onto cereals.

 

[jg123]

how much more will fertiliser cost per acre at these prices i think it will be 80 pounds in my case spray prices will also rise in northern ireland we still receive single farm payment of about 100£ per acre but if there was no sub margins would be very tight even at 160£ for barley

Everything has gone up, what we are paying for store cattle probably 30% in a year or so, store lambs are over 30% more, building materials maybe 30% machinery 10% plus. Fat prices are up but all we are doing tho is turning over more money and probably running on less of a cushion if anything goes wrong with prices and or weather

 

[teslacoils]

Barely is 50 percent up in 12 months, so some plusses. Pleased rent isn't.

 

[jg123]

Barely is 50 percent up in 12 months, so some plusses. Pleased rent isn't.

I always knew the arable boys were making big bucks

 

[Steevo]

Everything has gone up, what we are paying for store cattle probably 30% in a year or so, store lambs are over 30% more, building materials maybe 30% machinery 10% plus. Fat prices are up but all we are doing tho is turning over more money and probably running on less of a cushion if anything goes wrong with prices and or weather

The risk has gone up too….

 

[teslacoils]

I always knew the arable boys were making big bucks

Well, the argument for fert is "just don't buy it". Try that when it comes to feeding cows and see how it works out.

Answer - it works out bad for all of us.

So long as the price for our finished goods is enough to leave a decent margin *on investment* then it's fair enough. I want to see 20 percent at least on the money I lay out per acre. Probably more like 25 percent. That's including all costs.

 

[Matt]

Bloomin heck.
Ordered that grade (compound but not Yara) a fortnight ago at £320 and thought that was bad enough.

Ordered mine a week ago between ur price and the price this person quoted today. Thought I was crazy ordering at the price.

 

[jg123]

Well, the argument for fert is "just don't buy it". Try that when it comes to feeding cows and see how it works out.

Answer - it works out bad for all of us.

So long as the price for our finished goods is enough to leave a decent margin *on investment* then it's fair enough. I want to see 20 percent at least on the money I lay out per acre. Probably more like 25 percent. That's including all costs.

Fert is the same as chemical in my opinion

You shouldnt aim for 100% yield as its not financially optimum. If £1 of input returns £1.50 of extra yield then its beneficial. Theres a point tho when an extra £1 of chemical will improve yield but only by 90p so its not beneficial.

The same for grass into milk etc etc. Is it better to buy more fert or cull 10 cows on the balance sheet. A crystal ball would help a lot

 

[daveydiesel1]

We cant do without it but its makin things tighter same as diesel and meal prices but how do u cut back on any of them. The price of new tractors doesnt scare me at all as i can just keep drivin the 1s i have but i cant do without the other things

 

[county down]

Economics wise, I'm thinking that third cut grass is dubious and I will allocate that fert onto cereals.

grass silage will cost 5£ a ton more at these prices we work at suckler cows whole job may become uneconomic at present income levels very little profit for hours worked but what do we do with the ground let it to a dairy farmer perhaps

 

[An Gof]

If I had to buy it all at current prices it would be upsetting. As it is I'm looking at £37/AC dearer.

Don't forget phosphate is also very dear.

Yes, but for most people who have previously maintained P levels the impact of a one year P holiday is far less dramatic on the crop (combinables) than a N holiday

 

[thorpe]

Barely is 50 percent up in 12 months, so some plusses. Pleased rent isn't.

is it?

 

[jg123]

grass silage will cost 5£ a ton more at these prices we work at suckler cows whole job may become uneconomic at present income levels very little profit for hours worked but what do we do with the ground let it to a dairy farmer perhaps

With the price of fat and stores going up so much i was thinking ths suckler job might be one thing that has benefitted as long as the farm can produce its own feed

 

[teslacoils]

is it?

Well not far. £130 delivered sept 2020. Or thereabouts. Either way, good increase in output at today's prices.

 

[Hindsight]

If you plant wheat, you're committed to throwing inputs at it. I simply can't cut fert rates and make as much money. Although I'd balk at £600 for AN.

Take a look at RB209 the 2010 editiion where there is a nice chart with guidance on appropriate adjustments to N rates depending on price of wheat and price of Nitrogen. Based on the response data from the trials which to support RB209. All the guidance is there.

 

[B'o'B]

Take a look at RB209 the 2010 editiion where there is a nice chart with guidance on appropriate adjustments to N rates depending on price of wheat and price of Nitrogen. Based on the response data from the trials which to support RB209. All the guidance is there.

That only goes up to £483/t for AN though!

 

[Hindsight]

That only goes up to £483/t for AN though!

Can probably extrapolate! Not a year to chuck on a bit of extra N in hope! But give future commodity prices there is a good return to be had even with N over £1 kg N on the steep side of the response curve.

 

[B'o'B]

Can probably extrapolate! Not a year to chuck on a bit of extra N in hope! But give future commodity prices there is a good return to be had even with N over £1 kg N on the steep side of the response curve.

@£600/t for N and £200/t for wheat you’d be knocking 50-55kg N/Ha off the table recommendations.
Not going to get much UK milling wheat about next year if it carries on like this.

 

[Hindsight]

@£600/t for N and £200/t for wheat you’d be knocking 50-55kg N/Ha off the table recommendations.
Not going to get much UK milling wheat about next year if it carries on like this.

Yes, in that order at those relative prices suppose, But still achieve most of the potential yield. Milling wheat agree - if need 13% spec there is no opportunity to reduce the required N. At least for yield can adjust. Not sure millers are accounting for this yet. Be same throughout EU? I was surprised on another thread to read of folk contemplating fallow rather than a crop in reaction to the price of Nitrogen. This year of all years with the market forward price incentivizing and rewarding the grower for planting wheat is surely the wrong year to fallow!? Just a few kgs of N will give a healthy financial return.

 

[cricketandcrops]

For wheat the economic optimum drops to 160 kgN/ha at current levels vs grain price (180 kg tops) Those who bought early total N dose will not alter compared to normal with Nov 22 wheat price.

However I have always banged the drum of improving nitrogen use efficiency. If ever there was a time to start looking it is now. Ensuring nothing is limiting nitrogen uptake (weather, compaction, soil pH, other nutrients, etc, etc) Also having seen it in trials a little and often approach could be very worthwhile. Yes it costs money to drive over the crop however if reducing N got to eek out every little bit of performance. I would be looking at a good dose early to build the biomass (60-80 kg) then maybe 3 splits applied more frequently than one dollop. Unfortunately when start to reduce total dose most see it as an opportunity to cut out a pass, this is wrong IMO.

If not bought or buying a current levels I’ve been saying all the above to those who are ringing for advice, and also to review cropping, eg 2nd wheat is a no go IMO, spring barley much better option, I’ve done the costings as always borderline if on BG land due to chemical costs. Just a PITA at harvest having acres of it.