Fertilizer is a critical part of food safety and sustainability in Canada. According to Southern Alberta farmer David Bishop, it’s one of the main tools farmers use.
“Seed, we call it the base of the crop,” he said. “The fertilizer is right there because without fertilizer we will not have a very good harvest.”
Bishop said he has seen the price of fertilizers rise over the past year.
“Anhydrous, in the fall, it had already gone up in price, we did something to $ 950 and now it costs about $ 2,200,” he said.
Read more:
Low grain yields in Alberta mean high grain prices will continue
The demand for the essential product has raised the price more than ever.
“We’re certainly at historically high levels for fertilizer prices, x but that’s consistent with the very high prices farmers get for their crops in the fall,” said Clyde Graham, executive vice president of Fertilizer Canada.
Graham added that there are a number of factors that drive up the price, including handling challenges related to the pandemic. There are also a number of unusual supply interruptions that play a role.
“China has stopped exporting fertilizers,” he said.
“We have had interruptions in the supply of fertilizer production in western Canada, in the United States. In Europe, there are problems related to natural gas, which is a key component in the manufacture of fertilizers. Russia has reduced its exports ”.
Read more:
Drought reduces Canada’s wheat crop to a 14-year low, canola to a 9-year low
Graham said Canada is the world’s largest fertilizer exporter, shipping to more than 75 countries.
Global demand is expected to continue to riseC, so the price is likely to remain where it is as we approach the 2022 planting season.
“I know some people who were able to buy their fertilizer last summer when the price was lower, they are the ones who made the best decision, great for them,” Bishop said.
Read more:
Heat wave and lack of rain lead to continued deterioration: Alberta crop report
He added that he bought about half the amount he needs for next year, but will need to buy more. He said one thing that will help this coming year is leftover fertilizer in the soil that was not used by plants in the drought experienced this year in much of Canada.
Bishop said that means you will only need to apply about half the amount you would normally apply to your rainfed crops, but irrigated land will need the same amount as usual.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Reference-globalnews.ca