How can agriculture navigate an uncertain world?
In the current environment it’s difficult to comment on much, for fear of being out of date, comments Openfield head of research, compliance and shipping, Cecilia Pryce. The world is facing ‘word’ and ‘action’ volatility and it’s testing everyone. The gloves seem to be well and truly off and where once there seemed to be decorum and order we are all facing uncertainty. Some may say this is good as it keeps everyone on their toes but in reality the agricultural sector is a vital service which has a long lead time before a seed becomes a crop and livestock become a viable food source.
Similarly, you don’t grow hedges overnight or change agricultural practices – everything takes time and it’s even generations before impacts are felt because new systems have to be learnt and implemented. The UK agricultural industry is a very productive ‘factory’ if managed well and the individuals are respected. Upset the equilibrium and the fall out both short term and long term could be unprecedented – just to add to all the other unprecedented global issues we seem to be facing.
Tariff spats are currently adding to the uncertainty. When we have faced such issues previously, we were still part of the EU, which meant Westminster had a relatively easy ride – it was easy to blame Brussels but now the mud will stick unless they can create a positive from a negative. To do this they really need to understand the industries being affected and those that may be affected if import tariffs were imposed. The government needs to feel the pulse of all sectors of the economy and have specialist teams that fully understand the issues; or they need to trust the industry representatives to advise them on the correct approach. I feel that interaction and communication are well and truly broken, with too many individuals who don’t know their subject matter and don’t know who to listen to for a real view of the real issues!
Unfortunately, if those being paid to make decisions that affect the markets don’t understand their subject matter, the consequences could be dire and, worse still, those who make the decisions today are unlikely to feel any long-term impact if they get it wrong. In fact, they nearly all have slopy shoulders, while those at ground level have to adjust yet again and try to make things work.
If the rules change, we need to be the first to learn how and what it all means. Agriculture can’t continue to be a slow adopter; it’s tough constantly facing challenges but it’s up to us all to be the first in the trough. We must embrace change even if we don’t like it, while trying to understand what can harm prices both on the nearby and deferred, because being behind the curve and ignoring change could be our downfall.
Fertiliser matters
As we enter into April it’s important to be reminded of the urea spreading restrictions now in place, says fertiliser manager Lucy Hassall. New government regulations that came into effect in
2024 will mean that each year any solid or liquid urea based fertiliser can only be spread between 15th January and 31st March. Any urea fertilisers spread after this date will be required to be protected with a urease inhibitor which will be audited through the Red Tractor Assurance scheme.
The focus is on urea fertiliser due to the amount of ammonia that can be lost from this product through volatilisation if used incorrectly, particularly in dry and warm conditions. Ammonia is an air pollutant that is detrimental to human health and our natural environment; losses also reduce nitrogen use efficiency.
Urease inhibitors work by slowing down the conversion of urea into ammonia, holding nitrogen in the ammonium form longer which is less volatile and more readily available for plant uptake increasing fertiliser efficiency.
