Fertiliser use will increase in coming years because of falling prices on the international market, Federated Farmers predicts.
A report published by Rabobank said international fertiliser prices have fallen between 60% and 75% since record highs in mid-2008, because of reduced demand caused by the global economic downturn.
Federated Farmers economics and commerce spokesperson Philip York said the falling prices will provide some relief to farmers struggling with high costs.
He said some farmers may not have been applying as much fertiliser as they would normally have done and that trend may be reversed as prices fall.
