
Farmers in the South East have said that the rising cost of fertiliser is having an impact on their plans for what they grow and harvest for the next year.
Fertiliser is any material that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients and is usually shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, but that is only open to a limited number of ships as a consequence with the US and Israel's war with Iran.
A third of the world's key fertiliser chemicals pass through the Strait, and prices have risen steeply since the outbreak of war.
Richard Budd, a director at Stevens Farm in Hawkhurst, Kent, said the impact had seen the cost of fertiliser "double overnight".
Speaking to BBC South East, he said: "Last June, we bought some fertiliser for £350 per tonne, I went into the market today to buy some and it was £630 for the same amount.
"We're fine now as we've fixed our growing costs, but come September, when we go to put the next crop in the ground, we are going into a world of uncertainty if this goes on.
"We'll have to see a dramatic rise in the cost of wheat to make it financially viable for next year."
Last week, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) warned that food prices in the UK were likely to go up as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the price of cucumbers and tomatoes could rise over the next six weeks, with the cost of other crops and milk increasing in the next three to six months.
Speaking in the House of Commons on 19 March, the Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said: "We are well aware that events in the Middle East are putting pressure on input prices.
"I have talked to the chief executive officer of the Competition and Markets Authority.
"We are taking a close look at what is happening to ensure that there is no market abuse, and will keep a close eye on the situation as it develops."
Budd added: "This doesn't directly impact what we are doing at the moment, but we are dealing with an increase in diesel prises as well.
"When we sit down and plan next year, we will have to assess what we will grow and harvest.
"Things right now are just about ok."
Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
Related internet links
NEUESTE BEITRÄGE
- 1
IDF continues counterterrorism operations in Gaza Strip, including destroying terror tunnels27.03.2026 - 2
NATO needs Ukraine's 'adaptation DNA' and an 'HOV lane' for new war tech, top commander says07.04.2026 - 3
No respite for German economy as experts slash forecast over Iran war01.04.2026 - 4
Palestinians forced from West Bank refugee camps left in limbo as Israeli demolitions go on21.11.2025 - 5
Sahel coups push Africa to top of global democratic declines, report finds06.04.2026 - 6
Belarusian parliament passes a bill to crack down on LGBTQ+ rights02.04.2026 - 7
Figure out How to Really focus on Your Dental Inserts for Durable Outcomes19.10.2023 - 8
The Electric Toyota Hilux Is Finally here, But It's Not Cheap01.04.2026 - 9
Embrace the Outside: Exercises and Entertainment06.06.2024 - 10
Cognizant Couture d: A Survey of \Moral Decisions and Sharp Looks\ Maintainable Style10.08.2023 - 11
Deadly Switzerland ski resort fire was likely started by sparklers attached to champagne bottles, officials say02.01.2026 - 12
6 Vehicle Rental Administrations: Pick Your Ideal Ride06.06.2024 - 13
A Lone Wolf Outsmarted Hunters in the Black Forest and Then Vanished03.04.2026 - 14
I'm an 83-year-old yoga instructor. I'm not your typical grandma — I still work to feel fulfilled and supplement my Social Security.28.12.2025 - 15
Why the chemtrail conspiracy theory lingers and grows – and why Tucker Carlson is talking about it14.11.2025
Ähnliche Artikel
Artemis 2 captures historic 'Earthset' photo | Space photo of the day for April 7, 202607.04.2026
Tesla Germany Registrations Quadruple to 9,252 Vehicles in Best March Ever07.04.2026
What's going on with Katseye? The Manon Bannerman hiatus drama, explained.07.04.2026
Two IDF officers, civilian face indictment in alleged Gaza aid-truck smuggling scheme07.04.2026
West Palm Beach Shorecrest, renderings of downtown waterfront condo07.04.2026
Artemis II astronauts make long-distance call to the space station as they head home from the moon07.04.2026
Tuesday, April 7. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine07.04.2026
The Eastern Bongo, Kenya’s Rare Forest Antelope on the Brink07.04.2026
U.K. blocks Kanye West from entering Britain to headline now canceled festival: What led to the ban07.04.2026
Russia confirms 16 Cameroonian soldiers killed in Ukraine war07.04.2026
First Phosphate advances battery-grade phosphate project as analysts highlight strategic Federal support07.04.2026
After fleeing past Hezbollah fighting, some Israelis on northern border vow to stay07.04.2026
'Unreal' solar eclipse: Artemis 2 crew just saw one of the rarest sights in spaceflight history07.04.2026
Chinese construction workers in Israel: 'I’d rather be bombed than live in poverty'07.04.2026
Broken toilet, T-shirts on windows and collecting saliva: The weirdness of daily life aboard Orion07.04.2026
Czech Republic caps fuel prices amid Iran war energy crisis07.04.2026
NASA releases stunning new images captured by the Artemis II moon mission, including 'Earthset' and a solar eclipse from space07.04.2026
Amid Iran war, 53 of Israel's future scientists showcase projects in Jerusalem contest07.04.2026
Iranian-linked drone attack kills Kurdish couple in northern Iraq07.04.2026
Thousands of small fish defy gravity to climb Congo waterfall07.04.2026


































