Fertilizer Up? Down?

 Farmers, I’m going to read you something from the Idaho Farm Bureau…Listen…”The International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) recently released its Fertilizer Outlook 2009-2013 in which the group suggests, after the sudden fall in demand during the 2008-09 fertilizer campaign, a rebound may be expected for the 2009-10 campaign.”

 OK! Now what? Do we expect prices to sky rocket. Should we buy fertilizer in advance to lock in prices. Should I change my plans for crops based on demand for potassium,  phosphorous or nitrogen. What about different farming strategies? Go to a no-till system where fertilizer application is at maximum cost effectiveness. Invest in technology to give me pinpoint accuracy in applying fertilizer?

 Hold the presses! I talked to University of Idaho Extension Ag Economist, Paul Patterson: “The trouble with trying to make an intelligent short comment on fertilizer prices is that when people say the prices have changed or they’re up or down or whatever, you always have to know what point in time they’re talking about. Because of the extreme volatility we’ve seen, on any given time period, you could make a statement…prices up/down, and it would be valid but you also have to understand the time frame that comment was made in.”

 And all the more reason for farmers to keep up with information, to which Paul replied…”The modern farmer now, some of ‘em are packing 2 cell phones and a PDF on their belt, they have to do that in order to stay in touch with what’s going on.”