increase font size
Ballance general manager customer Jason Minkhorst.
Farmers need not worry about fertiliser supply this autumn but the prices they pay will depend on how the Middle East conflict plays out.
That's the message from the two major fertiliser co-operatives, Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Ravensdown.
Significant volumes of nutrient commodities are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz by Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran.
With Iran imposing a blockade on shipping through the vital sea passage, disruptions to Middle East shipping routes can affect shipping time and freight costs.
Ballance general manager customer Jason Minkhorst says fertiliser prices had seen significant price increases leading into this conflict.
"Given this latest escalation and the market's reaction, we anticipate more," he told Dairy News.
"Upcoming shipments are mostly subject to pricing at time of shipment. As a commodity, fertiliser pricing experiences movements similar to the imported oil market."
Minkhorst is encouraging customers to work with their nutrient specialists to plan ahead.
"Thinking ahead and creating a plan early will help us make sure we have what they need, when they need it."
Ravensdown chief sales and marketing officer Daniel Pranic says the co-operative has product on hand to meet expected fertiliser demand for autumn.
"Supply is assured, with product already in New Zealand or on the water.
"We operate seasonally and, as you know, the next period of demand for fertiliser in New Zealand is some months away in spring.
"As we plan for the spring season, we will be leveraging our longstanding global supplier relationships to help secure supply of product to New Zealand."
Looking ahead to product sourcing requirements for spring, he says the price they pay for that product is yet to be determined and will depend on multiple factors, including timing and length of the Middle East conflict, and energy costs.
OPINION: At Fieldays this year, one theme kept surfacing across the sector: global shocks are no longer something that happens “over there”. They are now translating quickly into local, farm-level impacts through increasingly complex and connected channels.
As fuel and fertiliser prices rise and with uncertainty in the future, farmers are being urged to go over their budgets with a fine-tooth comb.
Silver Fern Farms has successfully produced and delivered 90 tonnes of premium chilled New Zealand lamb and beef to the United Arab Emirates via airfreight.
The situation in the Middle East has been a major influence on markets over recent months and the market for key farm inputs continues to move at pace, with pricing and availability shifting quickly across several key products, according to a major stockfood seller.
Strong demand for high dairy protein products is keeping prices elevated but the Middle East crisis could make an impact in the coming months.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.
