Farmers time fertilizer use as prices surge

Finnish farmers are carefully timing fertilizer applications to maximize effectiveness as costs rise, Yle reports.

Recent rains have improved crop prospects after a dry early summer and low snow cover weakened growth. In June, yields were still expected to be below average.

Max Schulman, grain expert at the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), said farmers are now applying extra fertilizer to compensate for the difficult start. “Active supplemental fertilization can improve yields, but without rain, the investment isn’t worthwhile,” he noted.

Fertilizer prices are expected to climb further in the coming months, partly due to Russia’s recent decision to raise tariffs on rail shipments to Finland and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Farmers are now aiming to apply fertilizer just before rainfall to ensure optimal absorption.

Some fields may receive additional nitrogen as late as September to boost wheat quality. Schulman expects this year’s harvest to meet domestic demand and leave some for export.

Grain prices remain volatile, with current levels struggling to cover production costs. The sector has faced challenges for four consecutive years, and planting is already down about 7% this season. Schulman hopes for a price recovery to at least cover expenses and enable future investments.

Not all fields benefited from the rains. Some areas still depend on favorable late-summer weather, as dry and windy conditions earlier in the season stressed crops already weakened by low soil moisture after a low-snow winter.