There's growing anger across rural Australia over spiralling fertiliser prices, with producers being urged to send submissions to the Senate committee currently examining the top-of-mind issue.
The mood on-the-ground is especially cynical of fertiliser manufacturers who announced a 30pc hike in prices on the day the inquiry got underway in Canberra.
Noted Lockyer District beetroot producer Lynton Brimblecombe, speaking at his property just outside Gatton, in south-east Qld, conceded the steep rise in fertiliser costs required a plausible explanation with the talk in the district of local producers importing their own fertiliser.
Three years ago prices were estimated to be about $350/tonne, steadily creeping up to around $550/t 12 months ago.
Today, it’s $975/t.
“We are price takers and generally can afford to pay for fertiliser but at the end of the day it (the price hikes) just mean less money in a farmer’s bank account,” Mr Brimblecombe said.
“We will have to put pressure on our market – to receive a higher price for our product (beetroot).
“There aren’t many choices – you can receive a higher price for your product, you can cut back on your use, or you can find other methods of supply for the same product.”
Meanwhile, Member for Lockyer Ian Rickuss says Queensland farmers and suppliers frustrated by the “ridiculous” price hikes of urea and other high-analysis nitrogen fertiliser are urged to send submissions to the Senate inquiry.
“Urea prices have rocketed in the past fortnight from $714/tonne delivery Gatton to $974/tonne - a hike of 36.5pc” he said.
"The impact of this on food prices will be dramatic, or farmers will simply stop growing, which also push up prices.
"To highlight the impact of these huge fertiliser price hikes, everyone involved in food production needs to send a submission to the Senate inquiry.
* Footnote: Queensland Senators Ron Boswell and Barnaby Joyce say they will take submissions to Canberra if producers contact them on either senator.boswell@aph.gov.au or senator.joyce@aph.gov.au