Navigating Urea Volatility: Biological inputs are part of the solution

Global events continue to shake up local farming, and urea - the backbone of many nutrient plans - is feeling the squeeze. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, including Iran, are disrupting key nitrogen fertiliser supplies. Trade restrictions on major exporters like Russia, combined with instability in other production hubs and energy market volatility, are making urea prices and availability less predictable.

For many New Zealand farmers, this means fertiliser costs are significantly higher than pre-2022 levels, even as prices fluctuate. As pressures persist, interest is growing in how to stretch every dollar - getting more from each kilo of urea and exploring long-term alternatives.

Biological and soil-enhancing tools aren't necessarily full replacements for nitrogen, but they can add value - boosting nutrient use efficiency and supporting a healthier, more resilient soil system.

Packed with organic matter and beneficial microbes, vermicast enhances nutrient cycling and can improve the efficiency of synthetic fertilisers, helping growers maintain yield with slightly reduced urea usage.  Other complementary tools like compost, cover crops, microbial inoculants, plant-based biostimulants, and biologicals all contribute to stronger soil function and nutrient availability.

Practical Strategies Farmers Are Exploring:

1. Precision urea applications - applying only where and when it’s most effective.
2. Soil testing and biological analysis - to understand and optimise existing fertility.
3. Using nitrogen-fixing microbes - when soil temperatures are warm enough, introducing the right microbial inputs can reduce the need for synthetic N by supporting natural nitrogen cycling in the root zone. This doesn’t mean eliminating nitrogen altogether, but it helps stretch what’s applied - and supports more balanced, biologically active soils.
4. Incorporating biological inputs like vermicast or compost to improve soil structure, boost microbial life and enhance nutrient uptake.
5. Integrating nutrient-efficient plants (e.g. plantain or clover) to capture and retain nitrogen and reduce leaching.

These changes are incremental, not radical. But over time, they build a system that’s more responsive and efficient, and less exposed to global volatility.

Expert Support for Biological Integration

For growers ready to explore these approaches, Robyn Vickers of NutriDense (a Waikato-based biological nutrient consultant) brings deep expertise. She helps farmers and orchardists integrate biological inputs into their nutrient plans by offering practical advice on soil biology, nutrient cycling, and optimising the inputs mix. Robyn’s site showcases real-world case studies and tools aimed at building healthier, more productive soils.

Together, with guidance from experts like Robyn, farmers can craft balanced strategies: combining urea with wider biological support, to address current pressures without drastic changes.

Looking Ahead

Urea pressures remind us that global markets are unpredictable. But by blending smart fertiliser use with targeted biologicals and soil care, New Zealand growers can build resilience.

If you’d like to learn more about biological options, or connect with Robyn Vickers for tailored nutrient planning, feel free to reach out. We’re here to support practical, down-to-earth solutions that make fertiliser dollars work harder.