Fertiliser prices are holding relatively steady as the period of peak sales approaches.

Several merchants report straight nitrogen products are holding at prices similar to last month, with a slight increase for some compound products often used for first-cut silage.

CAN prices are trading from £210 to £215/t.

Merchants report strong sales at present for both grazing and silage.

Urea is priced around £280 to £290/t, although some merchants have reduced the amount of urea in stock given that it is less commonly used in late spring and summer.

Compound NPK fertilisers such as 24-6-12 are trading around £282 to £290/t, while 25-5-5 is moving at prices of £268 to £275/t.

Similar products, such as 27-4-4, are priced around £275 to £280/t, while 24-0-13 is holding at £275/t.

Other grassland products, such as 20-10-10, are moving at similar prices of £276 to £280/t.

For farmers growing spring cereals and looking for high NPK fertilisers, such as 16-16-16, prices are generally in the range of £310 to £315/t.

Reseeding

Farmers considering their options for spring reseeding should see little change in the price of lime at £20 to £25/t spread.

Grass seed is priced slightly higher than late 2016, ranging from £43 up to £55 per bag, depending on the product and varieties used. A 14kg grass mix with high sugar tetraploids is selling at the upper end of the price range.