Australian farmers are heading into the 2026 winter planting season facing one of the most significant fertiliser supply disruptions in recent memory.

Australian farmers are heading into the 2026 winter planting season facing one of the most significant fertiliser supply disruptions in recent memory. The price of urea which accounts for
around 44% of Australia’s total fertiliser use has surged from roughly $675 per tonne in February to over $1,000 per tonne by the end of March 2026, driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and cascading supply chain disruptions across the Middle East. For many operations, that’s a cost increase of more than 60% in under two months.

With fertiliser and fuel together making up 25–30% of a cropping business’s total farm costs and some suppliers managing reduced stock availability, the pressure on farm budgets and planning is real. Some producers are already adjusting plantings or switching to less nitrogen-intensive crops like barley and pulses to protect their margins.

When inputs are this tight and this expensive, every application counts. Knowing exactly where your fertiliser has been applied; and making sure it goes where it will deliver the best return, matters more than ever right now.

The Real Cost of Record Keeping Gaps

Across multi-paddock and multi-property operations, keeping track of what’s been applied and where is a genuine challenge. A paddock can receive a second application simply because the record wasn’t easy to check. A priority paddock can miss its turn when the team assumes someone else has covered it. At $1,400 per tonne on farm, the figure WA Farmers was reporting in late March, those application decisions carry real financial weight.

There’s also the compliance side to consider. Fertiliser applications sit alongside chemical treatments in your quality assurance records. Clear, consistent records make on-farm audits and processor requirements straightforward to meet.

What Good Paddock Records Actually Tell You

Every paddock responds differently to inputs. Soil type, grazing history, past applications and seasonal conditions all play a role. A paddock that responded strongly to urea last autumn may need a different rate this year. A clear application history gives you the data to make that call with confidence.

When each paddock has a recorded treatment history, what was applied, when, at what rate and by whom, you can make quicker, more confident decisions about where limited supply should go first. You can prioritise paddocks heading into a grazing rotation, hold back on those that are resting, and focus spending where it will have the most impact.

FARMap records paddock treatments including the product used, dose rate, batch numbers, withholding periods and applicator details, the full picture in one place, accessible on your phone, tablet or computer from anywhere on the property, even without mobile coverage.

Keeping the Whole Team Across It

Fertiliser decisions rarely happen in isolation. Contractors apply product, seasonal workers carryout treatments, family members manage different parts of the operation. When records are centralised and accessible, everyone on the team works from the same information.

FARMap supports unlimited users on a single flat monthly fee, so everyone; full-time, casual or contractors, can log and view what’s been done across every paddock. When a paddock has been fertilised or placed in a quarantine period, it’s visible to the whole team immediately. Everyone stays across it, from the first application to the end of the withholding period.

Planning Ahead When Supply Is Under Pressure

The current supply situation will take time to work through. The Perdaman urea plant on the Burrup Peninsula is on track for production from mid-2027 and sourcing from alternative origins is possible but comes with longer lead times and higher cost. Planning well ahead gives operations more options.

Knowing your application history across every paddock lets you work through where the supply you have will deliver the best return, and where you can afford to hold off. It also gives you a clear basis for conversations with agronomists, banks or advisers as you review your input strategy for the season.

Simple Records, Better Decisions

FARMap is designed to make recording quick and straightforward, a few taps on your phone after an application and the record is there for the whole team. Paddock history, livestock movements, treatment records and farm tasks, all in one place.

In a season where every tonne of fertiliser carries more financial weight than it has in years, that clarity is worth having.