Fuel and fertiliser prices edge higher，glyphosate continues to slide

The survey results for September point to just a marginal increase in the price of red diesel, up 0.4p/litre to average 43.3p/litre. This corresponds almost exactly to the 0.38p/litre increase in fuel duty which came into effect on 1 September.

But there has been a more significant hike in the price of white diesel, which has climbed 2.5p/litre to 94.5p/litre.

Fertiliser prices were up by just over £2/tonne in September, to £181.5/tonne, reflecting the monthly price increments set by GrowHow. "These increments are set to go up, so expect a greater increase through October and November," warns Miss Moule.

But glyphosate (Roundup) has dropped significantly again, averaging just £3.96/litre, compared with £4.31/litre in August, £4.84/litre in July and £5.19/litre in June.

These price falls are not as dramatic as in the USA, where manufacturer Monsanto recently announced a 50% cut in the price of Roundup for 2009/10 following a $200m investment in new capacity at its Louisiana plant.