'Greater awareness' needed of potential threats of reduced fertiliser availability

A situation where a farmer needing to apply fertiliser next year but not being able to source it must be avoided.

At individual farmer level, the fertiliser requirements specific to the farm for 2023 should be assessed.

It is recommended that farmers should consider securing 20% to 30% of their total annual fertiliser requirement for 2023 over the coming weeks.

This proposal comes as a sub-group of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee was convened last week to discuss potential challenges around the fertiliser supply chain facing into the peak season of fertiliser demand on farms in the coming spring.