What farmers and agricultural producers need to know about the financial component of agricultural production? We decided to explore this topic in more detail.
It is important to note that agriculture can be both profitable and promising, but how much money does it take to invest in it? You need to purchase expensive equipment, fertilizers, plant protection products, etc. That is why many farmers start to save money and cut costs.
What are the main areas of cost savings in the agricultural sector? Mainly on seeds, plant protection products, and fertilizers, but this is not the right approach. Why?
Fertilizers are used to provide plants with the nutrients they need for proper development and growth. Since fertilizer prices can have a significant impact on the profitability of agricultural production, it is important for farmers and producers to understand the factors that shape them.
Demand is based solely on the price of the product. Farmers buy the cheapest offer, which in the future does not give results, or the result is partial, relying on the conditions that have developed in unfavorable weather conditions.
How to Choose a Quality Fertilizer?
Risking and buying anything is not an option when choosing a quality fertilizer! Most agricultural producers have become demanding in the choice of fertilizers for foliar feeding. They say that if they are going to spend money, they will spend it on quality. So, if you want to learn how to distinguish quality mineral nutrition from counterfeit, this article is for you!
Below we have compiled a list of tips for you that can help you choose a quality fertilizer and get a good profit from growing agricultural products.
What to consider when choosing fertilizer?
Before choosing a fertilizer, it is important to analyze its manufacturer according to these criteria:
- The fertilizer manufacturer should have a good reputation among its consumers. Ask your neighbor, colleague, or acquaintance who has already used the fertilizer that interests you whether they are satisfied with the quality and service of the company. It is also not a waste of time to find reviews about this manufacturer on the Internet.
- It is necessary to pay attention to the price of the fertilizer, because a quality fertilizer cannot be cheap due to the high cost of extracting the raw materials from which it is made, (we will talk about this in more detail below).
- Every manufacturer must have a certificate that confirms the quality of the fertilizer and opens the composition of the product (this document must indicate the content of nutrients and their form). For example, in which form the element is located, in an accessible or poorly accessible form, and whether they are water-soluble. In addition, certificates indicate chlorides, sodium salts, biuret (for urea) or toxic impurities. Before buying, you can request this document.
- High-quality packaging that allows the product to not cake and not crumble during transportation (if it is crystalline and granular), and not leak and not oxidize (if it is liquid fertilizers). Due to the correct and high-quality materials of the fertilizer container, possible problems during storage and application of the product can be prevented.
The price of foliar fertilizers
The prices of foliar fertilizers vary for many reasons, but the main factor is undoubtedly the quality of the raw materials and the composition of the fertilizers. All mineral fertilizers are made from certain raw materials, and each nutrient has a different cost due to various factors, such as the difficulty of extraction, the quantity and quality of the deposits. Not any deposit is suitable either, because the quality of the raw materials directly affects the final result – your harvest.
Now we want to tell you a little about ourselves, as a fertilizer manufacturer – the company Wonder. We specialize in the production of fertilizers based on high-quality raw materials from world supplier plants in Turkey, Germany, Poland, Israel, and Portugal. That is why we can confidently vouch for the quality of our fertilizers.
The availability of the element in the fertilizer is also important, because the plant cannot absorb any nutrient element in its pure form, all elements must be combined in a complex that allows them to interact with other beneficial components.
And also logistical services for the delivery of raw materials from different parts of the world directly to the plant, where the mixing of these components in different proportions and the direct production of fertilizer already takes place.
The factors that affect the fluctuations in fertilizer prices:
- Currency exchange rate: Many fertilizers are still imported from different countries, which means that their price depends on the currency exchange rate.
- Competition: The price of any product is heavily dependent on the number of companies that offer the same solutions.
- Government policy: It might seem that it should not have a big impact on agriculture, but the introduction of tariffs, duties, or special programs inevitably affects how the price of fertilizer is formed.
Seasonality vs. supply
Seasonality also affects fertilizer stocks and the plant’s production capacity. During a busy period for farmers, fertilizer producers may not have enough raw material volume and production capacity to meet the growing demand, which leads to higher prices. Conversely, during the growing season, the supply of fertilizers is higher when crops are already being grown, which leads to lower prices.
Plan your purchases in advance
Agricultural producers should be mindful of seasonality and plan their purchases in such a way as to avoid paying too high prices. By deciding to buy fertilizer in winter, you can save a lot of money.
Where to buy fertilizers at the lowest price?
When buying fertilizer, everyone wants to get the best price-quality ratio of the product. Therefore, below are several options for implementing the best conditions for buying fertilizers.
Distributors
Often, they offer the most favorable prices. Undoubtedly, by buying fertilizers from a distributor, farmers can expect lower prices than in retail stores. Usually, it is possible to purchase fertilizers from distributors in fairly large volumes. If the volumes indicated by the distributor are too large for you, then you can get the contacts of sub-distributors or stores that sell the products you are interested in.
Manufacturers
In some cases, it is possible to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Farmers can directly contact the manufacturer to get the best price on fertilizer with delivery to the specified address. However, it is important to know that such cooperation will be interesting to the manufacturer only if you purchase large quantities of fertilizers. For one canister or bag, it is better to contact your local fertilizer store.
How to Choose the Right Fertilizer for Agricultural Land
Agriculture requires the use of appropriate products to achieve high yields. Therefore, fertilizing agricultural land is one of the most important tasks facing farmers at all times.
Here are some tips on how to choose the right fertilizer:
- Analyze the soil composition (it is recommended to do this at least once every three years)
Analyzing the soil composition will allow you to clearly determine which nutrients are already present and which are lacking. This will help you reduce future fertilizer costs, as you will know the condition of the field and what element is lacking and in what place.
- Predict the crop yield
This should be done based on the agrochemical composition, the potential yield of the hybrid/variety and the cultivation area. Consider the list of essential nutrients that need to be purchased. Not all fertilizers are suitable for all crops, so it is important to choose the right one for each crop in agriculture.
Differences between fertilizers
Fertilizers are products that provide the correct development of plants and the achievement of high yields in critical growth periods. Farmers can choose different types of fertilizers, which differ in chemical composition and purpose. Although universal fertilizers seem to be an excellent compromise on the market, much more valuable solutions are available. Although the variety of fertilizers is becoming increasingly diverse every year, it can meet the needs of farmers for any deficiency.
Mineral or organic fertilizers?
Mineral fertilizers are produced on the basis of mineral substances and dissolve quickly in water, so the time it takes for plants to absorb them is relatively short. They are used to replenish the lack of mineral substances in the soil.
Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, are made from organic materials, such as manure, compost, and others. They dissolve more slowly in water, but their chemical composition is richer.
Should you choose cheaper alternatives?
The price of fertilizers is often a decisive factor when buying them. Cheaper alternatives reduce production costs, but they are not always the best choice.
Analysis of cheaper fertilizers shows that they have a lower content of nutrients and do not meet the declared content of the manufacturer, which can lead to a lower-than-expected yield. In the future, their deficiency in the soil will be difficult to replenish, which can lead to a decrease in the quality of plants and a decrease in yield. In addition, they decompose much faster, which leads to the need to apply them more often.
And finally, I will summarize:
It all starts with determining the agrochemical composition of the soil and needs based on the consumer index of the growing culture of nutrient elements. These calculations will help to eliminate risks in the future and reduce losses on purchases. And we, as a manufacturing plant, will help you provide the necessary nutrients in the high quality of our products.
We only play in the long run and strive to ensure joint success, because we know that a satisfied distributor equals a satisfied manufacturer.
