Farmers face record 77 percent rise in fertiliser

Another blow for cash-strapped farmers struggling to recover from drought earlier this year.

Just when it seemed things could not get much worse, they are about to be hit by the nation's largest fertiliser price rise on record.

The cost of superphosphate is projected to lift by 77 per cent from $270 to $480 a tonne. The price hike is being put down to soaring costs off shore.

To add to the woes, there does not appear to be any relief on fuel costs in the near future.

The declining New Zealand dollar has offset the recent drop in the world price of oil, meaning there is unlikely to be a drop in petrol prices any time soon.

- NEWSTALK ZB