24
—UncMf r Farming. Saturday. Oct 18. 1975
Fertilizer outlook
IConiniNd from fan )|
comment (hat fertilizer is
not imperative for growth of
food and thus places the
natural gas high on the
consumer list and low on the
agriculture scene. Thus the
real story of supplies might
well be determined by the
weather this winter.
Speaking before a group of
young farmers at a meeting
in New Holland on Monday
evening; Bob Strong, district
representative for Ortho
Chemical Company, com*
mented on the natural gas
situation. "So much is going
to depend on the weather - if
we have a long winter,
fertilizer may be hurt by
natural gas shortages."
“Fertilizer is not a bad buy
now but we can’t say for the
beginning of the year."
Another problem which
seems to have foreshadowed
the brighter aspect of fer
tilizer for the bicentennial
year is the supplies of potash
which are vitld to produc
tion. Much of the potash
(almost 85 percent) is now
being imported from
Canada. If the raw material
continues to flow into this
country, the outlook may
well stay "rosey” but if a
shortage develops or imports
cease, a real problem may
lie in store.
While the fertilizer market
seems to be heading toward
a brighter future, the sup
plies of nitrogen may be of
concern, especially in the
Now, Chore-Time Supplies
Everything but the birds
Pockman Manufacturing, pioneer and leader in cages for poultry, is now
part of Chore-Time.
So now, Chore-Time quality and dependability is available in a com
plete proven egg production package.
PROGRAMMED CAGE FEEDING This unique auger system developed by Chore Time pulls feed instead ot
pushing it delivers fresh unpicked over feed to every cage at regular intervals Extensive use in major
commercial operations has shown that programmed feeding all but eliminates waste and helps produce
more eggs per pound of feed
FLEX AUGER FEED DELIVERY SYSTEMS This Chore Time auger system delivers the right amount of feed
from bulk bin to feed line hoppers Performance proven and engineered for long life with little or no
maintenance
CHORE TIME AIR SYSTEMS Our ventilation engineers have added another first controls that
automatically adjust air pressure The system when combined with Chore Time fans provides a degree of
accuracy never before possible
spring months. Imports of
nitrogen may be below the
predicted levels that were
voiced at the beginning of the
year, for Western Europe
suffered a wet spring and
applied very little of the
commodity. However
following a severe drought
during the summer, officials
are predicting that
producers in that portion of
the world will be using high
applications of nitrogen in
the fall.
“We do not foresee the
current influx of European
nitrogen continuing on into
our spring season," com
mented Wheeler.
"All in all,” the fertilizer
official noted, "we are
heading for a tight nitrogen
supply in spring 1976; the
now fall supplies will be
adequate."
Phosphates
Look Good
One bnght note is that the
supplies of phosphates look
good for the coming season.
Local fertilizer officials have
stated that phosphates along
with other fertilizer com
ponents look good at this
time. In fact one area
producer recently stated,
“all fertilizer materials are
in over supply at this time.”
The surplus of the
phosphates have been at
tributed to the new
production, low demands in
the spring and a drop m
exports of the commodity.
As exports of phosphates are
not predicted to Increase
substantially until early
next year, the material
should be quite adequate - at
least in this country.
With the surplus left over
from last year’s selling
slump coupled with new
productions and a good
supply of raw materials, we
might well see the price of
fertilizer drop within the
next few months. However
depending largely on the
na’iral gas situation during
the winter months, prices
may increase again after the
first of the year. While all
advice seems to point to the
“buy now” proposition, the
winter months ahead will tell
the story for spring prices
and supplies.
In general, the outlook
seems much brighter than
the darkened marketing
situation which clouded last
year’s sales. There are still a
number of variables to deal
with such as the weather,
exports, and the imports of
raw materials but at least
the stockpiles of fertilizer
surpluses have offered a
cushioning effect.
"While there are some ifs
ahead of us,” Wheeler
commented, “I have little
mental reservation on 1976.
All signs are go if we manage
the opportunities that are
surely at hand.”
TRY A CLASSIFIED
irk.
t.
ALL
c
321
Want to find a new recipe?
GET THE FACTS
see VERT^mnc
AT NEPPCO EXPO BOOTH NO.’S 37 & 38 - Hershey, PA
OCTOBER 21-23, 1975
FIND OUT WHAT
IS, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOUR CASH
IN POCKET.
Read Home on the Range
TUSCARORA ELECTRIC
MFC CO. INC.
Tunkhannock, PA 18657
iS*
rtf* 10