Three out of every four farmers reduced their fertiliser usage this year amid unprecedented increases in the input costs. costs. The findings were revealed in an Irish Farmers Journal survey of almost 1,500 farmers.

A quarter of the farmers surveyed said they spread the same amount of fertiliser as last year, while 12% of farmers reported to have more than halved their usage. The remainder lay somewhere in between.

Tillage farmers’ chemical fertiliser usage was closer to last year’s rates than any other farming type as only 17% of tillage farmers pulled back by more than a fifth.

More than one-third did not alter spreading rates in the tillage sector, while another 44% cut usage by less than 20%.

Dairy farmers reacted similarly to the situation, with a quarter of farmers spreading the same amount and the majority cutting rates by 20% or less.

Beef and sheep farmers cut back on usage by similar amounts as roughly a quarter of farmers in each sector slashed fertiliser use by 40% or more.

Forward buying

Some 58% of dairy and tillage farmers surveyed stated that they were either intending on entering or had already entered a forward buying contract to secure next year’s fertiliser supplies.

About three-fifths of those who already forward bought locked in prices for 30% or less of the tonnage they expect to use over the whole year.

Just 14% forward bought more than half of what they are expecting to spread.