The university and the School of Sustainable Food and Farming (SSFF), along with industrial partners, elentecBio, Merigan, Stoic Options and Mastek, have been awarded research funding to continue their pioneering work to convert slurry from dairy cows into crop fertilisers, generating water for further use. 

Dr Marie Kirby, senior lecturer at Harper Adams University, said: “There are many potential benefits from slurry, but its application to farmed land is problematic in areas with increased susceptibility to pollution.

“This project will convert slurry from a residue product into something which is more valuable to farmers.” 

Cost-effective method for processing slurry 

This research project was funded by Defra as part of their Farming Innovation Programme Nutrient Management competition, and is managed via Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency. 

It will develop elentecBio’s novel technology at farm-scale to separate water for further use and recover phosphorous, nitrogen and organic matter from cattle slurry. 

The technology works through electrocoagulation, a treatment technology that adds an electrical charge to water as a way of recovering nutrients. The separated nutrients can be applied to growing crops, instead of spreading high-water content, low-nutrient slurries or synthetic fertilisers. 

Previous research has demonstrated that elentecBio’s recovered nutrient fractions are highly bioavailable to crops – meaning they can be absorbed easily by the plants – and promote significantly higher crop and root-mass yields compared to slurry and synthetic fertilisers. 

The researchers said that this technology will provide farmers with a cost-effective method for processing slurry, enabling time- and cost-effective nutrient application to land with reduced environmental impacts.  

The recovered nutrients can be sold off-farm, generating new income streams for dairy farmers and compliance with developing environmental legislation. 

‘Compact, robust, scalable process’ 

ElentecBio explained that its technology is modular in design and has been designed to be scalable and retrofitted to existing slurry systems. It has already been demonstrated to work in other industrial applications.  

This new research at Harper Adams University will now appraise commercial-scale technology operation and build different business models designed to fit farmer expectations. 

Dr Jayne Brookman, CEO of elentecBio, said: “We are delighted to receive this award, funded by DEFRA and delivered by Innovate UK. It supports us in our development of a slurry treatment product backed by excellent science.  

“The treatment will deliver a compact, robust, scalable process for efficient fractionation of dairy farm slurry. It will provide farmers with an opportunity to deliver environmental benefits whilst improving their farm profitability.” 

The project is keen to discuss its business models with a range of agricultural stakeholders. 

If you would like more information or are interested in demonstration days for the technology, please contact Sue Crosthwaite at sue@meriganltd.co.uk or visit www.elentecbioag.com 

Read more arable news. 

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The company said that this landmark facility marks a major milestone for Irish agriculture, ensuring farmers across the country have reliable access to high-quality liquid fertiliser. 

With a significant storage capacity, the Cork terminal is the largest of its kind in Ireland and is strategically positioned to serve all key agricultural regions. 

The state-of-the-art facility utilises cutting-edge fertiliser technology, operating 24/7 to supply high-performance liquid N+S fertilisers.  

‘Major commitment to Irish agriculture’

 Omex added that its investment into liquid fertiliser infrastructure offers Irish farmers a dependable and efficient nutrient management solution. 

The facility was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, 5th March, with key representatives from Omex, including chairman Max Winkler and managing director Sam Bell. 

Leading figures from the Irish farming community also attended, recognising the significance of this investment for the sector. 

Managing director Sam Bell said: “This facility represents a major commitment to Irish agriculture. 

“Dedicated to serving Irish farmers, our Cork hub guarantees secure access to top-quality liquid fertilisers sourced from multiple global supply chains. 

“This not only ensures supply reliability but also enables competitive pricing and improved flexibility in nutrient application.” 

Sales manager for Omex Ireland, Luke Thornton, highlighted how liquid fertilisers are revolutionising nutrient management for both tillage and grassland farms across Ireland.  

He said: “Our liquid fertiliser solutions are designed to optimise nutrient uptake, maximise productivity, and support sustainable farming practices.  

“Irish farmers are facing increasing pressure to enhance yields while managing input costs and reducing environmental impact.  

“Omex liquid fertilisers offer a precision-based approach, delivering essential nutrients exactly where and when they are needed.” 

The company confirmed that the new Port of Cork facility reinforces Omex Ireland’s long-term commitment to innovation and sustainability in Irish agriculture. By improving nutrient efficiency and minimising waste, liquid fertilisers play a crucial role in reducing the environmental footprint of farming systems across the country. 

With this major investment, Omex Ireland is set to support the nation’s farmers in achieving greater efficiency, sustainability, and profitability for years to come. 

Read more arable news. 

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Matching soil nutrient deficiencies to crop inputs may seem logical to avoid any single nutrient becoming the crop’s limiting factor, but how these nutrients are applied and become available to the crop is vitally important. Inputs applied at the right time, to the right areas of the field and in the right way, is essential for success.

It is an area that Toby Ward, nutrition agronomist at Origin Soil Nutrition, believes is changing, as growers seek the most efficient ways to maximise valuable inputs.

“Applying micronutrients at the beginning of the crops’ growing season, and ensuring the nutrients have extended-release characteristics so crops can access them through emergence, will avoid hidden hunger gaps developing as crops move through growth stages.”

Toby says these hunger gaps tend to become apparent after yield and quality potential has been affected. Once a nutrient deficiency in the crop has been spotted, it is about preserving the potential that remains, but this doesn’t have to be the case with proactive applications.

He continues: “This is why we advocate proactively applying micronutrients before the crop requires, based on soil and expected crop needs, with any further top ups applied as a foliar. If we leave all micronutrient inputs to foliar applications, crops will experience deficiencies much earlier.”

More landing sites

One way to apply micronutrients early in the season is via Origin’s prescription service, which matches nutrition inputs to crop requirements and can include up to 15 different nutrients in a single blend. Toby explains that as every field is different, a one size fits all application doesn’t stack up.

“Micronutrients are required in such small quantities, and each soil analysis will reveal different nutrient requirements. It doesn’t make them any less important than primary nutrients but adding what is a proportionally small amount of granules to a bag of nitrogen, would offer inconsistent application and a reduced number of landing sites. Conversely, applications of granular micronutrients on their own are considered time consuming and costly.”

The way Origin applies micronutrients to its fertiliser is very different to others and prevents inconsistent application. The micronutrients are ground into a powder that is electrostatically charged. This powder is applied to the fertiliser in the blending plant and provides an even coating across 100% of the granules. This guarantees nutrient availability immediately after application wherever the coated primary granules land.

Toby explains further: “The application method of our Micro-Match micronutrition offers 50 times more landing sites compared with applying granular micronutrients, which means more of the crop will have access to the nutrients. As these are applied at the start of the growing period, it bridges the six-week crop hunger gap between emergence and foliar applications.”

The additional landing sites offer greater crop access to the micronutrients. Zinc, boron, copper, iron, molybdenum, calcium and manganese can all be applied using Micro-Match and are compatible with Origin’s range of prescription fertilisers.

Micronutrients at key points

Toby stressed that Micro-Match isn’t a replacement for foliar applications later in the season, but it will help complement these and provide nutrition when the crop requires it most.

“We are not saying this is a silver bullet to micronutrient applications as we know there is still value in later season applications. However, crops do require these nutrients earlier, such as manganese to prevent yield loss and molybdenum for increasing nitrogen use efficiency, so using both methods ensures crops aren’t deficient at key points during the season.

“The dual action release of the micronutrients means it’s available for the crop to uptake on application but also has extended availability,” says Toby.

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PWM availability is for iXtrack T4 and T6 trailed models, in the guise of iXflow-Pulse, and in combination with the heavy duty HSS 30-40m boom. PWM offers greater accuracy and precision through fine-tuning of droplet size, plant coverage and water volumes.

Using Raven’s Hawkeye to underpin the system, Kverneland Group Mechatronics has integrated PWM control into its existing iXspray software. This manages the duty cycle for opening and closing times of individual nozzles while maintaining droplet size and pressure, without impacting on the desired application rate.

Advantages include an extension of the working range of a single nozzle system, plus a greater ability to cater for speed changes. These include curve compensation to manage the boom speed differential from one end to the other; starting and stopping on headlands; slowing down during turning; and adapting to speed changes when going up or downhill.

Less contact with pesticides

Closed chemical transfer is another development for iXtrack trailed sprayers, which avoids the need to manually open containers and measure out the contents.

With closed chemical transfer, pesticides flow in a controlled and measured manner, even with part-can volumes. Suction and pressure connections allow empty containers to be thoroughly rinsed before removal from the transfer mechanism.

Additional changes found on the iXtrack T4 range include an increased tank capacity of 5,300-litres, bridging the gap between the flagship 4,600-litre T4 and the entry-level 6,400-litre T6 model.

In addition, the T4 series is now available with Kverneland’s innovative HC vertical folding boom, in working widths up to 30m. The HC boom offers single-side spraying, and asymmetric and symmetric folding of three, four or five boom sections, lending itself to those with narrow headlands or no headland at all – for example in vegetable production.

The vertical folding HC boom is available from 18–30m, and can be equipped with five, seven, nine or 11 sections, or in combination with iXflow-E boom line recirculation and individual electric nozzle control.

Technology continues to evolve with the introduction of Twin Fill software to simplify multi-tank management with combinations using the iXter B mounted sprayer with the iXtra front tank.

Twin Fill ensures that the correct volumes of liquid in the correct concentrations for each tank, and are correctly mixed, split and transferred. When induction is complete, Twin Fill then ensures both tanks are correctly topped-up to the requested volumes with clean water. It is a process that avoids having to measure out all pesticides twice, and in different amounts, to separately fill a twin tank set-up.

Read more spring spraying news.

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Keeping the nozzle at the optimum distance above the target ensures the best coverage and so the best bang for your buck when it comes to making the most of chemical application.

As taught in every NRoSO update course, increasing the boom height by a mere 20cm above the optimum 50cm target height, when spraying on 50cm nozzle spacing, can double the drift.

Chemical companies supplied a cable tie to add to the end of the boom giving operators a guide to where the boom height should be, whereas, in the Amazone world, the hockey stick dangling from either side of the boom is there as a means of gauging boom height. Boom height control systems go back decades with the use of sensors under the boom giving audible feedback as to whether the height was correct or not. Amazone introduced its DistanceControl system back in the early noughties.

Continued boom height innovation

Fast forward 20 years or more and Amazone says it is still at the forefront of that technology, keeping ahead of the game with its innovative design and development. Booms are getting wider and so the need to control boom height has become harder and more important still.

On Amazone UX trailed sprayers and the Pantera self-propelled, the Super-L3 boom is available up to 48m and, at widths of 39m or more, the highly-sophisticated ContourControl and SwingStop pro come as standard.

With ContourControl, the ultrasound sensor count has now gone up to six with two taking care of the centre section on the chassis parallelogram and the outer four looking after crop height across the boom width.

Readings from these sensors are received by the Canbus electrics and a signal given to alter the boom height. This then triggers the on-board oil supply, stored in accumulators under pressure, providing an immediate oil feed to that specific hydraulic ram giving an instantaneous response at the boom.

The result? Perfect contour following all the time – even at higher forward speeds. The boom knows the nozzle spacing selected and sets the boom height accordingly without the need for any operator input. Additionally, if one side of the boom is folded in to go round a pole, then the boom is kept level automatically.

Now this technology is available on the UF02 mounted sprayers in boom widths from 24m and above so, for those farming on undulating terrain with a wraparound 3,500-litre front and back tank unit, all the benefits are available here as well.

One such customer making the most of the system is Hugh Murrie of John Murrie & Sons, who invested in a 27m UF 2002 with the new ContourControl system last year. With 200ha of arable land just outside Forfar, Angus, the farm previously ran on a 21m tramline system but the move out to 27m pushed them towards embracing this new technology.

“We have some heavily rolling land where, at times, each side of the boom needs to be able to go both above and below horizontal. Even on 21m, there were parts of the farm where we had the boom height right on one side and the other end of the boom dragging in the crop or up in the air. Now, with the addition of ContourControl, we can ride the undulations knowing that the boom height is always at its optimum,” comments Hugh.

Take the sprayer brake test

Poor spray application is not only just down to the wrong height; horizontal boom movement, such as boom tip sway, also results in over- and under-spray. This is where SwingStop comes in to iron out any to and fro movement generated by driver behaviour and tramline conditions.

Acceleration sensors on the boom ends sense the speed and direction of movement and more on-board live hydraulics are used within the boom pendulum system to constantly counteract these negative movements. To check it works, take the sprayer brake test. At normal spraying speeds, jump on the brakes and see the boom tip stay in its optimum position.

Individual nozzle shut-off – new level of reliability

Although AmaSelect offers the ultimate in nozzle control with its unique blend of individual shut-off and on-the-move automated nozzle size selection, a simple individual nozzle shut-off system on a 24m boom offers 85% less overlap than standard section control and so can generate up to 5% savings on your ag chem bill by reducing overall chemical usage as well as preventing crop lodging through overlap during liquid fertiliser applications and preventing yield penalties caused by spray over-application, Amazone claims.

AmaSwitch has offered all these benefits at an affordable price. Individual solenoid valves sit on the nozzle holder which can be specified either as a triple or quad body. The quad body can also be used to spray at 25cm spacing, as and when required. Now 2025 sees the launch of AmaSwitch plus.

AmaSwitch plus features new components that have been extensively tested in the harshness of a marine environment and in purpose-built climate stations and so is built to a whole new level of durability giving all the benefits of individual nozzle switching, yet with much improved reliability.

AmaSwitch plus comes with a four-year guarantee as standard via your myAMAZONE account.  For all your spraying and fertiliser application needs, go to www.amazone.co.uk or visit your local Amazone dealer for more information and a chance to do the brake test on your farm.

Read more spring spraying news.

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Oxfordshire farm manager Piers Cowling, of Sparsholt Manor Farm, compared bio-nutritional product, Tricet Pro-Growth, with conventional fertiliser on winter wheat.

His large-scale trials showed that yield was maintained when he reduced his standard N applications and replaced it with Pro-Growth.

Importantly, Pro-Growth was much more cost-effective than conventional fertiliser, plus it reduced the negative impact on soil health and fertility that man-made inputs can have, and helps with the transition to net zero.

Sparsholt Farm has 1,170ha of arable cropping, feed and milling wheat, alongside oilseed rape, spring beans and spring barley.

Soils vary from heavy silt clay loams in the valley bottom to thin soils on the hill tops.

Piers is a keen advocate of soil health and has been pioneering low soil disturbance and reduction of pesticides and artificial fertilisers for some years.

Pro-Growth trials

Sparsholt carried out tramline trials in winter wheat for two seasons to evaluate the effect on harvest yield of reducing nitrogen application levels whilst applying Tricet Pro-Growth.

In both trials Pro-Growth was applied three times at a dose rate of 3 litres/ha coinciding with T1, T2 and T3 sprays.

Piers said: “The conclusion from our trials so far is that 9 litres/ha of Pro-Growth, which was compared with a reduction 80kg N/ha, showed no yield reduction.

“But a significant cost saving was calculated – in the 2023 season prices traditional N cost £185.60/ha compared with £45/ha of Pro-Growth.

“We are also mindful that applying less N is beneficial for soil health.”

What is Pro-Growth?

Tricet Pro-Growth is a unique liquid formulation of a 14-07-07 urea mix combined with an extensive suit of micro-nutrients and minerals, with complexed essential amino acids and biological profile.

Being a liquid, it can be applied with ease and is absorbed rapidly into the leaves.

Pro-Growth stimulates and increases biological functions, reducing stress from the environment and potential nutrient deficiency – adding up to improved crop resilience leading to improved yield and quality.

Tricet Pro-Growth is applied at 2.5/5.00 ha in 200–300 litres of water per hectare to crops for an immediate boost, or at 14-day intervals in a programme while crops are actively growing.

How do bio-nutrients work?

Bio-nutrient soil and foliar products improve crop vigour and resilience to stress, leading to improved yield and quality.

Soil products feed and increase beneficial micro-organisms in the soil, reinforcing the development of natural life and fertility.

These improved soil conditions aid worm populations, root development and water and nutrient availability and uptake.

Foliar applications stimulate crop development and raise the plant’s natural defence mechanisms, so reducing reliance on conventional inputs and providing resilience to environmental stress.

Bio-nutrition and bio-stimulant products are no longer considered to be “muck and magic” or “snake oil”, Tricet concludes – they are beginning to play a vital role in 21st century crop production.

Backed by trials

Tricet UK says it has many years of bio-nutrient experience and is at the cutting edge of this expanding area of agricultural inputs.

Its products are fully backed by a wide range of practical trials conducted by independent organisations: PGRO, NIAB, ADAS, AHDB Monitor Farms, Reading and Cranfield Universities, and Askam Bryan College.

The company has focused on sustainable farming for 20 years; much of the new philosophy being adopted by the Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS).

Soil health particularly will become the UK farmer’s number one priority, Tricet reckons.

For details of all Tricet products – Pro-Soil, Pro-Foliar, Pro-Fortis and Pro-Growth – please contact John Scott, southern regional director for Tricet on 07711 456905 or visit the Tricet website.

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Does the UK, or should that be the devolved nations of the UK have current agricultural policies? So asks Cecilia Pryce, Openfield’s head of research, compliance & shipping.

As a student in the late 1980s we spent many hours debating EU agricultural policy and watching as the rest of the world ‘opened up’ and set forth on their agricultural policy journeys. Similarly, throughout my trading career I spent hours wading through policy and legislation to try and identify what may or may not happen next in different countries.

In the 90s we had rules for everything, be that how to put commodities into intervention stores or how to take them out, or even how to get a rebate for the deference between internal EU grain prices and world prices – it was another world.

The company I worked for moved many tonnes of barley out of northern intervention stores to exciting third country destinations, which at the time was a huge logistical effort. We had rules to play by and a clear forward plan, but since Brexit I have seriously started to worry about what happens next to UK agriculture.

I feel that the ‘National Food Strategy’ and similar has been put out to grass and the current incumbents have forgotten about life beyond bricks and tarmac. Maybe that’s harsh, but I do question if any of them have ever spent any time at the coal face of UK agriculture or even own a pair of wellies!

Furthermore, how many of them have ever looked up or read about the past agricultural policies, be it here in the UK or across the world? Do they really have a clue about commodity supply and demand, the impact of weather, how long it takes to grow crops and livestock or understand how amazing the UK agricultural supply chain is compared to others globally?

I really hope the current ignorance is a blip in their education and that they will get a short, sharp wake up call; but it worries me that the UK could honestly become a solar and daisy farm open for Sunday rambles and 100% reliant on imports for almost all our foodstuffs.

Surely, we should learn from others. In a world where many are trying to remove dependence on imports in the light of food security concerns, by improving agricultural productivity, we seem to be on a path of self-destruction with decreasing incentives to do better or invest.

Commodity prices are by their nature set globally and rely on basic supply and demand. The UK has historically been one of the world’s most productive producers of grain by area and over the years has increased its annual domestic demand for commodities – be that through feeding domestic livestock, distilling, milling or ethanol. Good farmers, good commodities and good domestic consumers feeding the nation and others while importing what we physically can’t grow due to climate.

Unfortunately, if we carry on at the current rate of self-destruction, and without a clear plan for the future of farming in the UK, we will be left importing meat, cereals, ethanol and, who knows, maybe even whisky! All the lessons that have been learnt will be undone, our balance of payments will look sick, and we will be heavily reliant on imports, which are likely to be matched only with a huge imported carbon footprint.

Fertiliser matters

As many growers understandably want to ensure autumn planting is completed before investing in additional fertiliser, this has resulted in a slow market for purchasing, particularly across Europe, writes Openfield fertiliser manager, Lucy Hassall.

With the continuation of high energy costs, manufacturers are no longer building stocks during quieter periods until the market is ready.

We are still in a position where production rates are being curtailed resulting in a tightening of supply. This has affected the AN market in particular where both ammonia and European natural gas prices remain firm, meaning we have seen no softening of prices as we sometimes experience during low periods of demand.

Global urea sales appear well covered for the remainder of the year and India has announced another tender for December shipment which could support stable prices.

The market is anticipating a busy start to the new year which means an increase in demand could result in firmer pricing due to tighter supplies should production curtailments continue.

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Another year and another set of weather records broken, but what will the lasting effects be? So asks Cecilia Pryce, head of research, compliance & shipping at Openfield.

Extremes of weather seem to be the new norm, and unfortunately something we are all having to learn to live with – but what is the long-term impact on farmed area? We recently saw the data published for the agricultural land use in England at 1st June. Nothing too amazing about that, but if you project the data across the whole of the UK it would show around 10.5% of the total cropped area in 2024 was not growing crops.

To put that into perspective, it was around 6% for harvest 2020 and averaged 4.66% for 2021/22 and 2023. In other words, around 642,000 hectares of arable land is either fallow or in SFI schemes, or in wheat tonnes around 5 million tonnes of missing grain.

It’s not an easy record to stomach but the point is, moving forward, does it decrease or just get higher? Do we see a return to a more normal arable season, or if weather extremes are here to stay is this the new normal? More importantly is the land that is being pulled out really poor-quality arable land? Can the land that is left produce more grain?

The latest headline from the EU was reporting the smallest wheat crop since 2012, but the 2012 crop was produced from a much bigger area but an even worse yield. Have varieties and growing systems changed that much over 12 years? The fact is that variables can change but how much risk and money are governments prepared to put on the table for environment over food and feed? Only time will tell but if we grow daisies, we really need to be able to put a real terms value on them and also try our best to understand the issues that weather extremes are generating when looking to feed the nation.

On a similar point, with such a wet autumn in the EU, the maize crops are reported to now be suffering from very high levels of mycotoxins. The reality is legislation has set limits and if those are exceeded then there is little that can be done with crops – you shouldn’t knowingly blend toxins or contaminants. Unfortunately, it’s yet another reminder of the importance of sprays and timely inputs – assuming there are any and there’s an opportunity to use them.

Legislation is there to protect us all, but with extremes of weather and changes to cropping methods comes consequences and the next decision will be – do governments grant a derogation on toxin levels in maize, or is the grain destined for a no feed/food use i.e. burning? You can’t consume it if it produces a by-product, because that also runs the risk of it not being fit for purpose. Food and feed waste concerns will then be raised and a further decrease in the availability of supply. Life is never easy but please keep the faith. The world needs farmers and food but I feel we will only really realise this when it may be too late for a quick policy change.

Finally this month, may I ask you to please check on your stored crops. I mention this as water ingress under doors and down walls is a common issue and crops that are not monitored have a habit of springing surprises on many when out loaded, and we don’t need UK issues with storage moulds alongside ergot and low proteins. Also don’t forget short term stores need emptying before the end of October.  

Fertiliser matters

As tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, we are once again facing volatile fertiliser markets as a result, explains Openfield fertiliser manager Lucy Hassall.

At the beginning of September, India announced a tender for significant tonnes of urea for October shipment which resulted in a small spike in pricing. There has since been another tender announced at the end of September for November shipment, again causing the market to firm. During this month Egyptian producers had also faced short term gas cuts resulting in production shutdowns and adding to pricing pressure.

Despite a quiet fertiliser market over harvest there has been no reductions in AN pricing due to the continuation of high energy costs across Europe. Producers are more inclined to turn down production rates than build stock at high input costs to sell at some point in the future.

Blenders have also been cautious about bringing in new vessels of product during this quiet time, meaning the UK isn’t sat on large stocks of product. With this in mind, it would be advisable to purchase at least part of your requirements in order to help manage risk.

Visit the Openfield website for more information

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Workers’ union Unite says it has secured a 21% pay rise for loading workers employed by Hargreaves Industrial Services, at CF Fertilisers’ Billingham factory.

The majority of workers, who pack and load ammonium nitrate produced at the County Durham site, will see their pay increase from £11.55 to £14 an hour – a rise of 21.2%.

Higher paid roles will also receive substantial pay rises and all workers will see their shift allowance increase by 75%.

The new rates will be back paid from April 2024 and workers with five years’ continuous service will gain two days extra annual leave.

READ MORE: Concerns over fertiliser shortage as CF workers plan to strike

READ MORE: Strikes halted at Basildon New Holland factory 

The deal, struck during the first set of negotiations since Unite signed a recognition deal with Hargreaves in June 2023, was secured without the need for industrial action. 

Strikes scheduled from 12th to 20th September have now been called off.

Unite regional officer Neil Howells said: “Congratulations to Unite’s workplace reps at Hargreaves who worked incredibly hard to secure this deal for their members’ at the plant. 

“Unite is always there to support workers who want to organise for better wages and to improve working lives.”

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Workers who pack and load ammonium nitrate produced at the Billingham site will strike in September and October over a pay dispute.

The union, Unite, said workers are angry over a pay offer from employer Hargreaves Industrial Services.

They will strike from 12th to 20th September and from 28th September to 6th October.

Industrial action will escalate if the dispute is not resolved, Unite warned.

The strikes will cause severe disruption to CF Fertiliser’s Billingham operations and impact the supply of fertiliser for farmers across the country, Unite said.

Hargreaves had a turnover of £59 million and made pre-tax profits of £2.9 million in the year ending May 2023, according to Unite.

CF Fertiliser, the client, had a turnover of £252 million in the year ending December 2023 and made operating profits of £30 million.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Both Hargreaves and CF Fertiliser can fully afford to ensure these workers receive a fair pay offer.

“Our members at Billingham will receive Unite’s total backing during these strikes.”

Unite regional officer Neil Howells added: “There is still time for industrial action to be avoided but that will require a pay offer being put forward that our members can accept.”

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