Nitrogen prices have risen by over €60/t since last summer and are threatening to squeeze farm incomes in 2017.

The increase, combined with the failure of the European Commission to create more competition in the EU fertiliser market, prompted a protest by IFA members at the Yara fertiliser plant in Co Cork on Wednesday.

Tariffs and taxes on fertiliser are costing Irish farmers an additional €32m per year, IFA president Joe Healy said. The restrictions are adding €1bn to the costs of EU farmers, he said.

This makes Irish and EU farm commodities uncompetitive against imports from outside the EU, he said, and cuts farm incomes.

The IFA’s yearlong campaign on high EU fertiliser prices has gathered support elsewhere. On Thursday, European farmer umbrella body COPA/COGECA will raise the issue with European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan.

The protection measures given to domestic EU fertiliser manufacturers include customs tariffs of up to 6.5% and anti-dumping duties on ammonium nitrate of up to €47/t.

“Increased concentration of the industry and anti-dumping duties and customs tariffs have resulted in a lack of real competition in the EU fertiliser market,” Joe Healy said.

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

He said: “European fertiliser manufacturers have profiteered from this protection over the last decade while farm incomes have declined.”

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