IFA president Joe Healy said the continuing rise of fertiliser prices coupled with falling commodity prices is eroding family farm incomes.

Speaking at a protest at a Yara depot in Ringaskiddy, Cork, on Wednesday, Healy said: “This cost-price squeeze is hammering farmers and damaging the competitiveness of Irish and EU agriculture.

“Following the introduction of anti-dumping duties in 1994, Irish and EU fertiliser prices have increased at almost double the rate compared to other inputs”.

Fertiliser is the second largest expenditure item on farms, costing Irish farmers €505m last year.

“Yara, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers, has hit farmers with seven price increases since last June,” he added.

Since June last year, wholesale EU CAN prices have risen by 48%, with ammonium nitrate prices up by 34%.

Lack of competition

The IFA president said such level of price increases demonstrates that increased concentration of the industry, anti-dumping duties and customs tariffs have resulted in a lack of competition in the EU fertiliser market.

“European fertiliser manufacturers have profiteered from this protection over the last decade, while farm incomes decline.”

He also called on the EU Commission to level the market, abolish anti-dumping duties and tariffs on non-EU fertiliser imports immediately and help to restore competitiveness to Irish and European agriculture.

Such a move would save Irish farmers an estimated €32m per annum and European farmers €1bn, he added.