ORDER your fertiliser now, is the message from the Furness and South Cumberland Supply Association.

The closure of fertiliser plants in the past year have taken four million tonnes of fertiliser out of circulation in Europe alone and, according to some estimates, prices are likely to rise by £2 per tonne per month.

Les Fear, spokesman for the Furness-based co-op, said: "Our advice to farmers who choose to wait until spring to order is that "Farmers who wait until spring to order is that it may be difficult to secure their exact requirements and they will certainly pay a higher price than if they order now."