Cropping farmers look for nitrogen alternatives

Amid price volatility and expected El Nino conditions, farmers are returning to natural fertilisers as nitrogen-boosting alternatives.

The bumpy ride for fertilisers and inputs during the past two years could continue for cropping farmers despite forecasts of stability.

After urea prices hit more than $1000 in April 2022, the growing season this year was marked by a severe input shortage.

Now, there is availability, but prices show signs of volatility.

Craig Henderson who farms at Berriwillock in Victoria. Picture: David Geraghty

Victorian Farmers Federation grains group president Craig Henderson said urea was priced at around $600 a tonne two months ago and had since gone up to $700/tonne. Earlier this year, prices were sitting at $450/tonne.

He said Rabobank’s recent Australian farm fertiliser outlook indicates prices and availability would stabilise.

However, with the declaration of El Nino conditions, there was concern that it would be dry next year.

Mr Henderson said growers were looking for nitrogen-boosting alternatives, such as incorporating more legumes into rotations.

There has also been a diversification of inputs, with more cropping farmers considering the application of animal manure.

At the recent Henty Machinery Field Days in southern NSW, an E-Series manure spreader was launched by JBS Equipment.

Atlas Ag distribution manager Jeff Saunders of Brisbane said producers were returning to natural fertilisers.

“We are seeing manure will have a bigger role to play as a soil conditioner in Australia,” he said.

A crop of Boree wheat at Aintree Park at Brocklesby in southern NSW owned by Justin Everitt, chairman of the NSW Farmers grains committee. Picture: Nikki Reynolds

Agronomist Frank McRae of DLF Seeds at Orange, NSW, said after three wet years, nitrogen stores were depleted.

“Farmers have been caught with urea availability problems and price so many times that they are now starting to plan ahead for next year,” Mr McRae said.

“There’s going to be a little bit of movement with urea,” he said.

Despite the challenges in securing the nitrogen input earlier this year, he said some crops had benefited from timely applications and were now looking to yield well.

“There are wheat crops near Temora where the yield potential is still reasonable, and they may go 5 tonnes/ha,” he said.

Mr McRae said it was also an option for people who could access chook or cow manure without the added pressure of significant freight costs.

“If you are close to the source, like a feedlot, it becomes a better, more cost-effective option,” he said.

With the lower livestock prices and continual destocking, he also tipped the area sown to winter crop next year was likely to be larger and would generate demand for inputs.