Will A Fertiliser Price Folllow Rising Grain Cost?
UK – There are fears in the beef sector that the recent, sudden, lift in grain prices will be followed by an equally sudden, but potentially much more damaging, rise in fertiliser prices, says the National Beef Association (NBA). Over the past decade there is clear evidence that fertiliser manufacturers tend to raise their prices in line with lifts in grain value (higher grain incomes makes it easier for them to take the money) so there is an expectation in the industry that further rises in farm fertiliser prices are therefore imminent. If this is correct it could persuade some beef farmers to cut down on inputs which would result in having to keep grazing cattle for longer to sell at the same slaughter weight because pasture quality has deteriorated. Similarly silage yields in 2011 could fall making it more difficult, in the case of breeders, to maintain cow fertility which would add to costs as well, said Hamish McBean, Chairman of the Scottish Council for NBA. The only response to
