Virginia fertilizer sales fall by 16 percent in 2009, higher cost cited

Va. fertilizer sales dip in ‘09, higher cost cited

RICHMOND, Va. — Sales of fertilizer products in Virginia fell by 16 percent during the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

State data show that 692,033 tons of fertilizer products were sold between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009, compared to 802,323 tons during the previous fiscal year.

Fertilizer products sold for farm use declined by 22 percent, from 498,871 tons to 407,402 tons. Sales for non-farm use dropped from 303,452 tons to 284,631 tons, a 6 percent decline.

Jonah Bowles with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation says cost was a major factor in the decline of farm use tonnage. He says the fertilizer index of prices in August 2008 was five times higher than in November 2006.