FERTILISER PRICES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28671, 22 August 1958, Page 10

FERTILISER PRICES

Farmers Expect Decrease (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 21. Farmers are hoping for a reduction by the Price Tribunal in the price of fertilised. But Federated Farmers is becoming concerned at the delay in any announcement of a reduction 1 in the price for the current fertiliser year, according to a spokesman of the federation today. The farmers base their expectation of a price decrease on the fall in' the cost of shipping rock phosphate by the British Phosphate Commission and a fall in the price of raw sulphur. Reports from"'-Australia show that these cost decreases are the * main reason for a fall in the price of superphosphate to fanners there. Jn New South Wales, the price ’ of superphosphate has dropped by • about 25s a ton, or about 11 per cent There have also been reductions in the price in other Australian states. In New Zealand, the “fertiliser ' year” starts on July 1 and there ! is usually a change in price—fre- ' quently based on alteration to the 1 cost of raw materials —about this time of the year. In recent .years. the adjustments 1 have been upwards. 1 Fertiliser costs, on the average, make up about 10 per cent, of a 1 farmer’s total farm costs and a 1 reduction in the price along the J lines of those in Australia would ■ be a distinct benefit in these times ! of falling overseas prices.