5 Tips To Mitigate Agricultural Inflation, From Feed Planning To Biostimulants
- Agricultural inflation is impacting farmers across the UK
- Fertilizer and feed prices have risen exponentially in recent months
- Latest Deals has examined ways to mitigate the impact
- Tips include using precision agriculture technology and biostimulant microbes
It’s safe to say that farmers have been facing rapidly increasing pressure in recent months due to exponential surges in pricing across the board. Farms are experiencing a knock-on effect as the Ukraine-Russia conflict continues, with fertilizer prices through the roof - raw materials are up 30% since the new year. What’s more, straights and compound animal feeds prices are up month on month since January according to recent data from GOV.UK.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘Agricultural inflation is a huge problem for farmers - it’s more important than ever to decide which costs can be cut back on and which bills need to remain. From precise feed planning to biostimulant microbes, here are some ways farming businesses can cut back on their overheads during this difficult time.’
Explore Precise Feed Planning To Save On Feed Nutrients
Certain supplies can be bought in advance to avoid falling prey to the fluctuating difference in price each year. When you see a lower than average price, stock up and enjoy the reduction in overheads over time. Alternatively, look into precise feed planning. With a good management system in place, farmers can reduce nutrient accumulations and make the most of homegrown nutrients, subsequently spending less on importing purchased feed nutrients. You’ll also improve animal and farm productivity, increasing nutrient exports in animal and milk sales.
Assess Your Land Productivity
Don’t fall into the trap of renting your land for the rate it’s advertised for. No acre of land is equal, and you’ll have patches which aren’t as productive as others. If you’re not producing a crop on certain acres, speak with the landowner and ask if you can pay less depending on the amount of overall productivity you’re actually getting. Similarly, if you don’t see potential in an area of land you’ve been renting for a while, cut it loose - it’s dead land. Ask your landowner to remove this land from your rental costs and grow more effective crops in a smaller area.
Don’t Apply One-Size-Fits-All To Fertilizer
If your land isn’t productive across the board, why apply fertilizer across the board? Take the time to create and manage records of your input costs, compared with the net return you receive for crop types and fields. If you discover you’re wasting supplies, put a stop to it! They say if you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves. Well, the same applies to tools such as precision ag technology. By making use of satellite position data, proximal data gathering technology and remote sensing devices, you will be able to create a bespoke cultivation plan across your land, optimising each square foot according to its potential. It won’t result in a huge increase in yield, but it will reduce the amount you’re wasting each year - which all adds up.
Use Biostimulants To Reduce Fertilizer Usage
With such a sharp increase in fertilizer costs, you’ll want to cut down on the amount you’re using to make it last longer. Consider biostimulant microbes, which can help plants uptake nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus better through their roots. You’ll be able to apply less fertilizer, with the same level of production. Seaweed extract is used for this purpose, and benefits besides improved germination include resistance to stress and diseases. As seaweed extract comes from a sustainable source, it’s seen as a great solution for crops. What’s more, using seaweed fertilizer is also ideal for improving dry areas of land - it has alginic acid in it, which holds onto water within the soil and improves moisture levels.
Hire Professionals - But Don’t Keep Them For Too Long
Analysing markets can be difficult if you’re a small business, so employing a farm business consultant could help with maximising profitability. For example, if you have someone contacting multiple feed companies to get quotes, then putting in the effort to get the best deal, you’ll benefit from the reduction in overheads by investing smartly in the knowledge your consultant has. Don’t get too carried away with employing professionals, though - carry out regular reviews to analyse whether your improved efficiency is being cancelled out by high fees. It’s smart to tackle problems with advisors, including veterinary professionals and agronomists, but don’t keep them for longer than they’re needed.
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