Rob Campbell

Fertiliser shortages lead to reduced food production, that’s about as simple as it gets. While many farmers have told me they have enough fertiliser for winter crop planting in late April, the real question is what happens as we move toward mid-year. Australia is almost entirely import dependent for fertiliser. A shortfall of specifically nitrogen fertiliser after planting could have a sizeable downward impact on crop yields and production in Australia. The big challenge facing farmers is that for the time being crop prices are low, and due to the shortage of fertiliser, the cost of growing crops has gone through the roof. During my recent travels I saw nitrogen fertiliser prices jump to $1,300/mt, the next day $1,500/mt and some farmers even being quoted $1,600/mt. Prior to planting they were as low as $750/mt. The US war in Iran is very different to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from a wheat price perspective. Russia and Ukraine accounted for roughly 30% of global wheat exports. Black Sea port closures immediately at the onset of the war led to rocketing grain prices, buffering farmers from higher fertiliser and fuel costs. This time is very different. Iran is an importer of wheat, and no exporter has been stopped from exporting. Wheat prices haven’t risen due to the war. Furthermore, we still have plentiful wheat left over from last year. Argentina and Canada had record wheat crops at the end of 2025, and Australia produced more than expected. This all changes as we head toward mid-year. Northern hemisphere winter wheat crops are coming out of winter dormancy now and will be nitrogen hungry prior to harvest at the end of June/July. On the Australia front, we’re yet to plant our winter crop. I’ve heard a broad range of responses from farmers so far to the higher cost of fertiliser and fuel: (1) deciding to switch away from nitrogen hungry crops like wheat and canola to feed barley (usually farmers don’t switch this close to planting) (2) farmers deciding they will be a lot more conservative with nitrogen application this season (leads to reduced yield and protein content of crops) (3) at the extreme, the occasional farmer even choosing just not to plant, the margins calculations simply don’t stack up. While usually farmers go ahead with planting in hopes the economics improve toward harvest, the rapid input price rise is making some question that mentality. The duration of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz will determine the shortfall and price of fertiliser supplies this year. The shortage of fertiliser will determine the production and price impact. The main positive for Australian farmers is that (with the exclusion of northern NSW) soil moisture levels are looking good heading into planting, for some farmers even the best in years. #agchatoz @Ross_Greenwood @SkyNewsAust

🚨 Fuel stations across regional NSW are running out of fuel ... but the 'renewable energy' mega-construction sites are still guzzling diesel. Surely we should preserve fuel and prioritise farmers over pie-in-the-sky renewables. I asked the government today if they would pause the consumption of diesel by the renewable industrial complex to protect our food supply ... but all must bow before the Golden Calf of Renewables. @sal_eacos @LibertariansNSW

@S_M_Bowman More effective spreading straight after seeding as cultivation will bury most of the other food source and the baits will generally be the first source of food they will find without digging. Pre seeding and you run the risk of burying the bait unless running a disc machine?

How many days does zinc phosphide mouse bait need to get a good kill in a paddock? Thinking of tipping mouse bait in the spreader with map/mop spread in front of canola seeding

@bentags @ipaddockapps Yep, definitely before rain, still think these products need moisture to work properly. Don’t generally see too much visual breakdown, just when the bar goes through for stubble flow.

@RobCamp11 @ipaddockapps Thanks. We had a look at res+ last year, but it was a bit close to seeding i think (4wks pre), and we didn't notice any effect. It would need to go out now I reckon, for an early-mid may sown paddock

So in the edge case that urea doesn't land in Au this year: Brainstorming strategies to reduce N requirement &/or increase yield under constrained N. Is it a year to burn stubbles? Tillage (with what fuel!) ? What else?

@bentags @ipaddockapps Will depend on how much rain and soil temperature following rain event. Ideally weekly rain event keeping top soil moist, once top soil dries out, process stops. A few stubble products out there improving stubble breakdown that are worth having a look at if not speed tilling??

@RobCamp11 @ipaddockapps On the flip side Rob, if we get rain this weekend on speedtilled/Kelly chained country, how long do the microbes need pre seeding to chew up the stubble to the point that it's no longer an early season negative?

@bentags @ipaddockapps With a lot of stubble incorporated into soil the C:N ratio is out of whack so higher, early nitrogen in- Furrow away from stubble for best N efficiency early. N will cycle back through later through organic N pool, Nitrogen just being used up by microbes >lower crop vigour.

@ipaddockapps Speedtilled wheat stubbles were the worst for early season N deficiency last year. With no rain before seeding it was a smorgasbord for bugs early in the season

How true this is for people in the Ag industry getting hold of fuel

Councillor Lance Warcon, an Indigenous man, proudly celebrates Australia Day. We cannot change the past, but we can all live together, appreciate our beautiful country, and embrace what it truly means to be Australian. Thanks for sharing your message! 🇦🇺👏🏼❤️

This post is A BIG thank you to ALL my family, friends and so many other people who have reached out to me! On the 27th of December 2025 my life was taken out of my hands…when meningitis took over my brain, & unbeknownst to me I was placed into a paralysed coma for 8 days to help me fight this awful disease. And that I did! Fight that is!…. After being given a 50/50 chance of surviving, I came out of the induced coma 8 days later…not able to walk or talk. And yet 4 days after that, with the doctors in disbelief, I walked, I talked and proved to them all why I should be released from hospital to start my recovery. So happy to be home, to be able to put my feet in the sand on the beach and to start thanking all those people that reached out to me and my family in their unwaivering support. This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change & how precious time is! There are so many wonderful people in this world … from paramedics (at Mermaid Waters Ambulance), doctors & nurses (at Gold Coast University Hospital) … to family, friends and people I didn’t even know. I feel like I met all these fantastic people in the past 3 weeks, or they reached out to me through messages of love and support. I am so grateful to you all. Thank you! 🙏 Bring on 2026 …I’m back! 💫

@tofar1 If they are Afghan melons that brew will be okay plus grazing. If you have paddy melons depending on size is when you might need the Garlon in the tank.

##asktwitter i just had a old person moment and forgot to put my triclopyr in. Its got glyphosate, 24d, 5 grams of ally. Still work or go back over with it

Now the fishing ban is in, lets see how our minister for primary industry likes her business shut down over night ! How about everyone boycott jarvis estate for wine ? #fishingban @RogerCookMLA

The Prime Minister has finally said ‘sorry’, seriously @AlboMP, how difficult was that?

This man silenced the entire UN Assembly by simply asking Arab States what happened to all their Jews.

One of Australia's most respected AFP agents has spoken out. He warns there are hundreds more on ASIO's list in the aftermath of the Bondi terrorist attack. He also calls it ISLAMIC Terrorism, unlike our Government.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli hits the mark! Calling Albo’s focus on gun reform ‘a win for the terrorists’ Australia deserves better!!

Capeweed research update: weed pressure was massive..the yellow in the aerial image is all capeweed. Control has been excellent.. mixes and timing need tweaking but we are nearly ready..residue samples have been sent off to gain permits.. we are one step closer

@CropDoctor54 @hirschirsch @Tigerbill172 @WeedSmartAU @grassrootsag @peterdnewman @DMAg_consultant A lot of pyrasulfotole, and clopyralid used in the NAR of WA so growers need to be aware of plant backs. Frequency has a shorter plant back than pyrasulfotole for certain soil types so maybe a safer option for broad leaf control in cereals the year before, especially for radish.

@hirschirsch @Tigerbill172 @WeedSmartAU @grassrootsag @peterdnewman @DMAg_consultant 👍 In some ways, it might be the opposite Dyl. The chemicals you use in other parts of the rotation may compromise where you can grow Lentils (or when)? 🤔🤷‍♂️

At Lentil desiccation time, you get a good look at the year’s weed control, as well as the legacy of previous crops. 2 different clients here, 3 diff paddocks & all Lentils in 2022. Add Milk/Sow Thistle to the weed list of “I didn’t know we’d capture that at harvest”! #ChaffDecks

Couldn’t agree more Snuffy! 👏👏