All categories of fertilizer and fuel showed significant price jumps from February to April, according to a survey of producers conducted by Keystone Agricultural Producers, the general farm organization in Manitoba.
According to the KAP survey, fertilizer prices increased an average of 11 per cent over the short time frame. The cost of purple gasoline and diesel (dyed purple for farm use only) went up 13 per cent and six per cent respectively.
The average Manitoba price of farm diesel in April was 81.5 cents a litre. In 2005 the price was 69 cents, and back in 1999 the price of farm diesel was only 37.5 cents a litre.
The price of urea fertilizer, 46-0-0, averaged over $591 a tonne in the most recent KAP survey. Phosphate fertilizer, 12-52-0 or 11-52-0, was more than $616 a tonne. Anhydrous ammonia, 82-0-0, was almost $880 a tonne.
KAP says a huge concern for Manitoba producers is that anhydrous prices are significantly cheaper in North Dakota.
At KAP’s annual meeting in January, delegates passed a resolution asking that the Competition Bureau investigate the price of fertilizer. That spurred the KAP surveys in February and again in April. KAP had previous survey results from 2006, 2005 and 1999.
~Kevin Hursh~