Getting fertiliser for a good price? That’s no job for boys! (From Gazette & Herald)

Getting fertiliser for a good price? That’s no job for boys!

11:37am Wednesday 18th January 2012 in Farming comment By James Stephenson

None of us can do without fertiliser and trying to get it bought right this season will not be a job for boys.

Ever since the autumn, the market has been volatile to say the least, according to Angus Langworthy of Thompsons Fertilisers.

The trade for wheat took most of us by surprise dropping well away from it’s expected peak of £200 a tonne.

The lack of confidence in grain futures spilled over into the fertiliser market where there was an increasing reluctance to pay the autumn rate of around £455 a tonne for TSP and £395 a tonne for Granular Urea.

This lack of activity had the desired affect with stores getting full and more ships on the way to our docks. Prices have dropped significantly but remain somewhat unpredictable with quite a wide range on offer.

As a sample guide, TSP is now running around £405 a tonne; Granular Urea is £345 to £360 a tonne; 25:5:5 Compound is around £309 a tonne and Nitram, perhaps expensively, priced at £340 a tonne.

Merchants are fighting to catch up on orders that should have been placed well before Christmas and anyone who hasn’t got cover for at least some of their fertiliser could be vulnerable.

Looking at Gleadells market report, there are indications that the global market is getting stronger and supplies tighter. You can take your own view but buying some now would be a sensible insurance policy.

Useful updates

Here are some newsworthy items on our agricultural support schemes:

SPS payments are ahead of schedule.

Much to his credit, Jim Paice is making progress in his battle against the dinosaur administration of the RPA. He announced this week that by the end of 2011, SP payments had been made to more than 92,000 English farmers, which represents 87.8 per cent, and these are the highest ever proportion that has been achieved since 2005.

The focus now is to validate the remaining claims and also to clear up the backlog from previous years.

I think I told you some weeks ago that the ELS online programme was to go through a major software upgrade and this has now been postponed to take place over the weekend of the January 28-29.

Those affected will be farmers who are ‘in progress’ of filling in their application forms online and all this data will be lost if you do not complete the forms prior to 2pm on Friday, January 27.

After that weekend you will have to start again.

Supper party

Last evening I was at a delicious supper party with friends when the conversation turned to the heavyweight reading of this years 80-page Guide to Cross Compliance produced by Defra.

In fact, although it is somewhat daunting, the 2012 tome contains relatively few changes.

The RPA has produced on its website a helpful shortlist of seven key areas where it has made amendments.

These mainly concern the rules surrounding the spread of fertilisers and manure near watercourses, pollution of ground water, NVZ regulations and livestock identification.

The key areas of non-compliance have been highlighted in the booklet with a standard warning sign of an exclamation mark within a red triangle.

Payments taxing

January 31 deadline for tax returns This is just a reminder that your tax returns have to be in by midnight on Tuesday, January 31, otherwise there is a minimum penalty of £100, which is payable whether or not you have any tax to pay.

Livestock trade

January blues hit livestock trade. After the record high prices we achieved before Christmas, there has been a slight easing back in the fatstock markets in the first fortnight of the new year.

This is pretty normal following a spending spree while consumers tighten their belts until the January pay packets arrive.

The interesting question this year will be whether the underlying economic depression will continue to force prices down or whether a shortage of supplies will lift them again.

This week both cattle and sheep have slipped around 10p per kilo.

Whatever happens, the live auction is going to reflect the best possible market price.

Slow progresss

I am pleased to report the progress is being made slowly but surely towards the formation of the new Malton Market Farmers’ Company and last week the seven directors were formally appointed. They are Pat Foxton, chairman, Michael Douglas, Winston Kobylka, Derek Watson, John Storey, Rod Cordingley, Richard Mason.

I have been told it is hoped to hold another open meeting as soon as we have some more news about the new site.

Market report

Forward 73 cattle including 15 bulls and 21 cows 1,283 sheep including 205 ewes medium heifers to 175.5p.

A Cussons and Son Kirkbymoorside ave 167.5p heavy heifers to 233.5p. J and R Waind Brawby ave 188.9p heavy bulls to 206.5p. D R Beal Marishes ave 187p.

OTM steers to 188p P Woodmancey. OTM heifers to 164p. T S Pearson Allerston Cows to 149p. M and J Ward and Daughters Harwood Dale ave 114.6p.

Light hoggs to 186p. J S & V M Collinson Gilling East ave 185.9p.

Medium hoggs to 194p C D and T D Nichols Stape ave 183.7p. Standard hoggs to 210p. C S Southwell and Sons Burton Fleming ave 192.75p.

Heavy hoggs to 196p. Burdass Lamb Limited Harpham ave 179.3p overweight hoggs to 179p. T Hardisty Coneysthorpe ave 166.6p Ewes to £128. C Mudd Brompton by Sawdon ave £82.68.