End-of-season deals are available for fertiliser, with straight nitrogen (N) products £30/t to £40/t down on what was paid in spring.

However, there is a range in prices across different suppliers, with some quoting CAN as low as £210/t to £212/t, with others at £220/t. For those who have the cash, and the storage facilities, it might be a good time to buy.

Looking to next spring, increased demand usually forces prices higher. There is also the added complication of a potential no-deal Brexit.

The UK no-deal plan would see a 6.5% tariff on various fertiliser products, which could potentially put £15/t onto products from EU manufacturers. However, for NI there is also the government commitment that the UK will impose no tariffs on goods crossing the Irish border, so the overall impact on NI might be zero.

Compound

Outside of straight N, many compound fertilisers have seen little change all year.

Prices on grassland products such as 25-5-5 or 27-4-4 range from £272/ up to £286/t.

Prices for compounds commonly used in the establishment of winter cereals are in the region of £350/t to £355/t for products such as 16-15-15, while 0-20-30 is quoted around £325/t.

Merchants indicate they usually receive a small but steady volume of sales throughout late autumn from farmers looking to avail of cheaper nitrogen prices.

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