While fertiliser giant Yara celebrated near doubling income, NFU Scotland was once again questioning the fairness of a global fertiliser manufacturing industry that is dominated by just a handful of suppliers.

NFU Scotland recently called on the European Commission to investigate the European fertiliser market to ensure that it is operating effectively and are now renewing their call for the lack of fairness and transparency within the fertiliser supply chain to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

NFU Scotland Vice President, Allan Bowie, said:

"Yara's third quarter results, which shows improved margins for the company in all product groups, has reinforced NFU Scotland's long term view that the cost of fertiliser production and the cost of fertiliser at the farm gate have become completely disconnected.

"Fertiliser remains a hugely important aspect of agricultural production, but given its increasingly exorbitant price is it not surprising that Yara have seen a decrease in sales in Europe. Growing margins will only exacerbate this trend, reduce agricultural productivity and leave a bad taste in farmers' mouths. 

"Dramatically increasing input costs such as fertiliser have left many farmers struggling to cope financially. But this isn’t just an issue for Scotland, or the wider UK and that's why we've written to the European Commission to seek a review of the European fertiliser market to ensure that it operates in a more transparent manner going forward."