Written answers
Thursday, 26 October 2023
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Farm Costs
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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76. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage increase in the cost of farm fertiliser in each of the past 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46377/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The table below sets out the latest available CSO Agricultural Price Index for fertilisers which covers the period August 2021 to August 2023:
I am happy to share what is a detailed table with the Deputy after this engagement.
| Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug-21 | 100.2 | Sep-22 | 231.6 |
| Sep-21 | 104.3 | Oct-22 | 238.9 |
| Oct-21 | 120.8 | Nov-22 | 238.8 |
| Nov-21 | 123.2 | Dec-22 | 236.8 |
| Dec-21 | 147.7 | Jan-23 | 232.2 |
| Jan-22 | 179.9 | Feb-23 | 223.1 |
| Feb-22 | 193.4 | Mar-23 | 209.9 |
| Mar-22 | 216 | Apr-23 | 180.3 |
| Apr-22 | 250.8 | May-23 | 160.0 |
| May-22 | 248.6 | Jun-23 | 131.8 |
| Jun-22 | 232.8 | Jul-23 | 126.5 |
| Jul-22 | 226.5 | Aug-23 | 125.6 |
| Aug-22 | 228.2 |
As can be seen above, August 2023 fertiliser prices were some 25% higher than the corresponding date back in August 2022. However, it is clear that there has been a consistent and significant reduction in fertiliser prices during the course of 2023. The latest price index is at a level approximately 50% of prices in April 2022 when the initial effects of the Ukraine war had started filtering through to fertiliser price and availability. In the last year, prices have dropped 45%.
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