A Race to “Catastrophe,” By James Reed
The Australian reports, using terms that I often use:
Australian farmers are warning the nation is racing towards catastrophe due to dwindling fertiliser supplies and no immediate federal government rescue plan, raising the prospect of multimillion-dollar crop losses and rising food prices and shortages.
As grain growers raise concerns winter crop yields are at risk and half the nation's vegetable growers reported their fertiliser would run out within three weeks, the Albanese government has been accused of promising nothing concrete to avert a crisis, aside from a new urea plant not operational before 2027.
National Farmers Federation president Hamish McIntyre on Thursday told The Australian the emerging fertiliser crisis was "extremely worrying" and new supplies must be found urgently.
"If farmers cannot access reliable and affordable inputs they will scale back plantings," Mr McIntyre said. "This will impact their business, Australia's agricultural production and, ultimately, food availability. We're in a situation now that we need fertiliser – no matter how it gets here or where it's from. We encourage the federal government to explore fuel and fertiliser markets in North and South America. We need the government to think laterally about all options available."
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/desperately-short-fertiliser-the-new-fuel-as-farm-crisis-hits/news-story/e352d5b32d84d90ed200b657e9192837
