Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent changes in the cost of fertiliser on farmers in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

The fertiliser market is a global market, and while there is no immediate risk to UK supply, the market price in the UK is strongly influenced by international prices for fertiliser and by the value of the pound.

The current situation and impacts on farmers in particular, and industry more widely, of current rising fertiliser prices are being monitored closely. Defra has asked the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to increase the frequency of its fertiliser price reporting and this data is now being published on a weekly basis. This will give farmers more timely and transparent information to support their decision-making. Defra has also issued a fertiliser survey aimed at farmers and land managers to help build better understanding of direct impacts. Defra will continue to engage with industry and farmers to understand any potential pressures and options to mitigate any risks.