Fertiliser woes could prompt French farmers to switch grain crops

Value Exchange International

13/10/2021 13:48

PARIS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Surging prices and tight supply of
fertilisers have swelled grain farmers' costs and could prompt
some to switch from maize to less fertiliser-reliant crops next
spring, farm office FranceAgriMer said on Wednesday.
    Prices of natural gas, a key input for nitrogen-based
fertilisers, have risen sharply around the globe against a
backdrop of post-pandemic demand increases, low inventories and
tighter than usual gas supplies from Russia.  NG/GB 
    That has sent fertiliser prices soaring and also curtailed
supply as some manufacturers struggle to contend with mounting
gas costs. 
    "The real worry is availability. We already have some supply
problems today and, whatever the price, there is no guarantee
that we will have some in the spring," said farmer Benoit
Pietrement, who is also head of FranceAgriMer's grain committee.
    France is the European Union's largest grain grower and
exporter.
    Rapeseed sowing is over in France and it would be too late
for farmers to change their mind on winter grains such as wheat,
which is now being sown, but there could be an issue with spring
crops.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nP6N2OP03L
    "Some farmers may decide to limit crops that need a lot of
nitrogen, like maize, and turn to less demanding ones like
spring barley or sunflower seed," Pietrement said.
    Fertiliser prices have more than trebled over the past year,
which bring costs for farmers to between 300 euros ($346) and
350 euros per hectare of cereal, compared with about 150 euros
per hectare spent currently.
    "The impact on growers will be violent," Pietrement added.
($1 = 0.8668 euros)
    

 (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide
Editing by Gus Trompiz and David Goodman)
 ((Sybille.deLaHamaide@thomsonreuters.com; +336 8774 4148;))