There was a 10.38% increase in fertiliser sales in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year, figures from the Department of Agriculture show.

Conditions in January to March 2019 were much more favourable for fertiliser use than 2020. One might think sales would be back this year due to the wet conditions and lack of growth that pertained at the time. While there is no way of knowing if all of this fertiliser was actually applied, it seems likely that an amount of the purchases may have been in response to the perceived value available at the time.

While overall fertiliser use has been generally increasing in recent years, it seems possible that sales in quarter two may be back, given the possible carryover of purchased product, coupled with the lack of response that was likely in the very dry conditions.

Sales of phosphorous are also up, this time by 13.13% compared to the same period last year

Sales of nitrogen are up 11.16%, with much of the additional revenue coming through sales of compounds. However, sales of straight nitrogen are also higher. Sales of phosphorous are also up, this time by 13.13% compared to the same period last year. Virtually all of this happened through increased sales of compounds.

Potash sales are up 12.44% on the first quarter of 2019 and the additional sales happened exclusively as compounds.