CHANGES are underway in the way that fertiliser is bought and sold.

Speaking for Farmway, commercial manager Tony Simpson explained: "The new fertiliser season starts at the beginning of July and it is anticipated that the two major UK manufacturers will come out with a price for deliver July, payment August.

"This price will go up £2 per tonne every month all the way through to next spring. But at least farmers will be able to place orders for spring delivery based on this price list. It will, therefore, be advantageous for farmers to buy early."

He added that manufacturers will now take orders only until their monthly production figures are completed. A farmer could thus find himself in the position of wanting to order in November but finding the manufacturer will not take his order because the order book is full.