DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Five retail fertilizer prices were lower in the first week of August, according to prices tracked by DTN, with four of the prices dropping by $4 per ton since the first week of July.

None of the eight fertilizer prices moved a significant amount, which DTN considers 5% or more.

MAP had an average price of $530/ton, down $2; anhydrous $580/ton, down $4; DAP had an average price of $494/ton, down $4; urea $428/ton, down $4; UAN28 $272/ton, down $4.

Three fertilizers were higher compared to the previous month. That includes 10-34-0 $486/ton, up $4; UAN32 $320/ton, up $3 and potash $393/ton, up $1.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.47/lb.N, anhydrous $0.35/lb.N, UAN28 $0.49/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

All eight of the major fertilizers are higher compared to last year. DAP is 1% higher, MAP is 5% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 10% higher, potash is 11% more expensive, UAN28 is 13% higher, UAN32 is 15% more expensive, while anhydrous and urea are both 17% higher compared to last year.

Researchers at Oxford University and Cambridge University are developing a new method for better fixing nitrogen in wheat and corn.

According to a news release from Oxford, http://www.ox.ac.uk/…, scientists have engineered what they are calling a novel plant-microbe signaling pathway using synthetic biology techniques.

Scientists found a way to engineer a molecular dialogue between plants and the bacteria surrounding their roots. Enhancing the root microbiota has potential for improving crop yields in nutrient-poor soils and reducing chemical fertilizer use, Oxford said in a news release.

"Plants influence the microbiota of their rhizosphere by sending out chemical signals that attract or suppress specific microbes," said Dr. Barney Geddes from Oxford's department of plant sciences. "Engineering cereal plants to produce a signal to communicate with and control the bacteria on their roots could potentially enable them to take advantage of the growth-promoting services of those bacteria, including nitrogen fixation."

Scientists selected a group of compounds normally produced by bacteria in legumes called rhizopines. They were able to transfer the synthetic signaling pathway to a number of plants including corn and wheat.

DTN collects roughly 1,700 retail fertilizer bids from 310 retailer locations weekly. Not all fertilizer prices change each week. Prices are subject to change at any time.

DTN Pro Grains subscribers can find current retail fertilizer price in the DTN Fertilizer Index on the Fertilizer page under Farm Business.

Retail fertilizer charts dating back to 2010 are available in the DTN fertilizer segment. The charts included cost of N/lb., DAP, MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018	488	505	355	366
Aug 27-31 2018	487	513	357	365
Sep 24-28 2018	494	520	361	385
Oct 22-26 2018	499	518	366	406
Nov 19-23 2018	501	530	368	407
Dec 17-21 2018	508	532	377	407
Jan 14-18 2019	512	534	383	407
Feb 11-15 2019	512	537	385	405
Mar 11-15 2019	510	534	386	402
Apr 8-12 2019	505	532	387	404
May 6-10 2019	501	527	391	418
Jun 3-7 2019	497	527	392	434
Jul 1-5, 2019	498	532	392	432
Jul 29-Aug 2 2019	494	530	393	428
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018	443	498	242	279
Aug 27-31 2018	446	480	233	271
Sep 24-28 2018	449	493	236	278
Oct 22-26 2018	457	499	243	284
Nov 19-23 2018	457	520	246	287
Dec 17-21 2018	457	565	265	304
Jan 14-18 2019	462	580	270	305
Feb 11-15 2019	470	596	271	318
Mar 11-15 2019	469	596	269	318
Apr 8-12 2019	481	592	271	317
May 6-10 2019	487	595	267	310
Jun 3-7 2019	487	591	271	314
Jul 1-5, 2019	482	584	276	317
Jul 29-Aug 2 2019	486	580	272	320

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @toddneeleyDTN

(KD/CZ)

Copyright 2019 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.