UK farmers are facing the threat of rising input costs as they look ahead to the harvest of 2022, with the planting of winter crops already underway.
A recent report by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has said that the rising price of crude oil and natural gas could result in even higher prices for red diesel and ammonium fertilisers than seen during 2021.
Red diesel is currently at its highest price since November 2018 at 66.0ppl and 31 per cent higher than it was a year ago, while fertiliser prices were 49 per cent higher in 2021 than they were in 2020.
UK wheat futures have risen since early in the year, but they remain far below the prices seen for the 2021 crops, and unless 2022 crop prices are able to match to growth seen in input prices, the margins of farmers across the country will get squeezed.
Bodies such as Crop Advisors are able to help ease this burden though, with the Hampshire based firm a specialist in the buying of arable inputs since its foundation in 1978.
With more than 600 members across the South of England, it does not trade or sell any inputs, but rather negotiates the price on behalf of the farmer member.
Working alongside 20 independent agronomists to ensure they have a complete commercial understanding of the inputs they are advising on, its members have the advantage of receiving their advice through their chosen independent agronomist, while also benefitting from the increased purchasing power of the combined client membership.
Writing in her recent contribution to The Parliamentary Review, managing director Emma Martin explained how Crop Advisors go about securing the best outcomes for its members, even in a challenging environment.
"Crop Advisors does not see itself as a standard farmer buying group, but one that specialises in arable inputs ensuring maximum profitability for its members," she said.
"We strongly believe that the buying of inputs is not necessarily about how cheaply one can buy a can of chemical or a tonne of seed, but what is the cost per hectare and is the farmer receiving good value for money for his investment. We question this with every product: we look at its source, its label implications, its integrity, its trials response curves and finally how it compares and contends with its competition."
