FARMERS have been advised to ‘tread warily’ as regards fertiliser prices, product content, and application rates, as they plan ahead for the 2025 grazing and silage season.

According to the IFA, prices have been edging up steadily over recent weeks with most of the most popular compounds such as 18-6-12 now around the €500 a tonne mark. [As of last week].

The price increases seem to be edging more towards the compound fertilisers with Urea-46% quoted at €490/t while Urea Protected-46% is being traded at around €530 per tonne.

Galway farmers have been advised to price around before buying in fertiliser this Spring and to check the greater range of compound fertilisers that are now available to them.

IFA County Chair, Stephen Canavan, described the trend towards higher prices in fertilisers – especially compounds – as ‘worrying’ and as something that would ‘eat into’ better commodity prices.

“I would advise farmers to price around before buying; to check out what compound fertiliser is most suitable to their farm; to be aware of limits especially as regards phosphorous [P]; and to check with their consultant/advisor before purchasing,” Stephen Canavan told the Farming Tribune.

Karina Finn from Oranmore, Galway IFA Environment Representative, told the Farming Tribune that given the higher cost of fertiliser, it was vital that farmers only put out the quantity and type of fertiliser that their land needed.

“Look very closely at your soil tests and the indexes for your fields; be very mindful of weather conditions as you don’t want expensive fertiliser being washed away; and get good advice before you purchase a particular product,” said Karina Finn.

She said that most farmers were aware of having the correct pH on their fields before applying fertiliser. “If your land needs lime, get that done first, to ensure that you are getting the full value from your fertiliser,” she said.

Some farmers who contacted the Farming Tribune said that they had issues last year with Protected Urea being  slow to be absorbed into the soil and impacting on silage quality, even with an 8-weeks gap between application and cutting.

Others also said that they weren’t happy with the response they got from the Protected Urea + Sulphur combination while concerns have also been expressed at the shelf-life of Protected Urea if left in the farmyard.

Pictured: Karina Finn: Check carefully before you buy.