Farmers should stick with ethical fertilisers

13 February 2009
MEDIA RELEASE

The Fertiliser Quality Council is urging farmers to stick with ethical and independently audited fertilisers.

Executive Director, Kevin Geddes, said in tough times it was vital that farmers applied fertilisers that were audited and contained only the elements they needed.

“If the fertiliser has the Fertmark tick, farmers can rest assured they are getting best value for money and being environmentally responsible,” Kevin Geddes said.

“It is no use applying anything to soil that does not have a label explaining exactly what is in the bag or in the bin. To claim it is ‘natural’, ‘organic’ or ‘good for the soil’ is totally inadequate in itself. What’s needed is a list of every element and the amount of that element.

“To apply product that doesn’t have a detailed list of available nutrients means farmers are wasting money. To claim a product is ‘natural’ means nothing. Salt is natural but you don’t go around spreading it onto the soil.

“The Fertmark scheme was designed by farmers for farmers and is the only real way a farmer can be assured that what is on the label is in the bag.

“It is also a major commitment from our major, ethical fertiliser companies,” Kevin Geddes said.

ENDS

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