Fertiliser handling and safety

How to safely store and use fertiliser

Yara produces high quality fertiliser products from a variety of raw materials by different production technologies. The fertiliser handling and safety pages bring together various information about fertiliser to highlight the issues that can affect the quality and safe use of fertilisers and to give best practice advice to people working with fertilisers in the supply chain and as end users.

Blended fertiliser quality

Over the years, Yara has commissioned a number of surveys to investigate the quality of blended fertiliser products available to UK farmers. Unfortunately, the latest results show a significant cause for concern with the quality of blended fertilisers.

Environment and recycling

Fertilisers do not harm the environment when they are applied correctly, but wrong application may cause runoff into waterways that increases uncontrolled growth of algae and contributes to eutrophication.

Fertiliser labelling

The label on the fertiliser bag contains important statutory information for transport, storage and handling of the fertiliser. The chemical composition of the product is stated on the bag in accordance with national regulation.

Fertiliser security and safety

New chemical knowledge and new chemical legislations can cause phosphate fertilisers containing ammonium nitrate and other ingredients to be classified. These types of product might be classified as hazardous to humans and also to the environment.

Fertiliser spreading advice

To achieve the best results when using fertilisers, the nutrients have to be spread accurately and evenly and at the right rate across the whole spreader width. A high quality fertiliser is important, but so is how you spread it!

Fertiliser stewardship

Yara operates a Fertiliser Stewardship programme to ensure that proper care is taken along the whole fertiliser value chain from product development, purchase of raw materials and manufacturing right up to the end delivery and use on the farm.

Fertiliser storage

Correct storage of fertiliser is important to ensure safety. Where possible, fertilisers should be stored in a closed, secure storage place to protect the product from the weather and reduce the risk of theft.

Fertiliser technology

Yara fertilisers incorporate technologies to preserve the quality of the products. These include coating systems and anti-caking agents. It's also important to prevent dust, thermocycling and condensation.

Fertiliser handling and transport

It is important to handle and transport fertiliser safely whilst minimising deterioration in quality. Correct handling and transportation of fertiliser should be based on climatic conditions, the type of fertiliser and how it is shipped (bulk or bags).

Physical properties of fertilisers

The physical properties of a fertiliser are determined by its chemical composition and how it is produced. An understanding of product properties is useful for handling, storage and spreading of fertiliser.

Safe use of fertiliser

Yara have produced a brochure on the safe use of fertilisers on farm to highlight and provide advice on all all of the health and safety issues that arise when using fertiliser on the farm.

Storage of YaraVita products

Pallets of YaraVita fertiliser should be stored in racking. Where racking is not possible, follow the pallet stacking guidelines. Certain combinations of pallets may be double stacked.