DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends
Fertilizer Prices Continue Fairly Stable
OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continued to hold fairly steady the first week of May 2017, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. While more fertilizer prices were lower this week compared to the previous week, the moves were fairly minor.
Of the eight major fertilizer, six were slightly lower in price compared to a month earlier. These were DAP, MAP, urea, 10-34-0, UAN28 and UAN32.
DAP had an average price of $436 per ton, MAP $466/ton, urea $351/ton, 10-34-0 $436/ton, UAN28 $247/ton and UAN32 $280/ton.
The remaining two fertilizers were slightly higher in price from last month. Potash had an average price of $339 per ton and anhydrous $508/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.38/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.
Spring planting has moved along somewhat smoothly in many areas of the Northern Plains. Mark Rohrich, who operates Maverick Ag, a full-service agronomy center, and also farms near Ashley, North Dakota, said most of the spring wheat is seeded, about half of the corn is planted and other crops like sunflowers are still be planted.
Most of the corn fertilizer has already been applied, as most farmers in his south-central North Dakota region put down fertilizer before planting in the form of urea. Very little side-dressing happens in the area, he said.
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"I know many guys here have been waiting on rain for fertilizer applied broadcast in no-till over the last few weeks and we have gotten none," Rohrich told DTN.
As for where retail fertilizer prices could be headed, Rohrich expects a fairly steady market in the coming months. Retail fertilizer prices will most likely follow whatever level commodity prices are at, he said.
"I don't see big jumps up [in fertilizer prices] in these kinds of grain markets, and most farmers already have their belts pretty tight," he said.
Retail fertilizer prices are lower compared to a year earlier. Half of the eight major fertilizers are still double-digits lower.
10-34-0 is 22% lower than a year ago, anhydrous is 14% less expensive, UAN32 is 13% lower and UAN28 is 10% less expensive. Urea is 9% lower, DAP is 8% less expensive and both potash and MAP are 7% lower compared to year earlier.
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.
DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):
DRY | ||||
Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
May 2-6 2016 | 475 | 502 | 366 | 385 |
May 30-June 3 2016 | 473 | 499 | 363 | 375 |
June 27-July 1 2016 | 468 | 495 | 358 | 365 |
July 25-29 2016 | 459 | 492 | 356 | 356 |
Aug 22-26 2016 | 451 | 468 | 330 | 330 |
Sept 19-23 2016 | 443 | 453 | 319 | 323 |
Oct 17-21 2016 | 436 | 452 | 313 | 317 |
Nov 14-18 2016 | 436 | 445 | 315 | 327 |
Dec 12-16 2016 | 433 | 443 | 320 | 333 |
Jan 9-13 2017 | 432 | 441 | 320 | 338 |
Feb 6-10 2017 | 431 | 448 | 330 | 354 |
Mar 03-10 2017 | 436 | 460 | 336 | 361 |
Apr 3-7 2017 | 438 | 466 | 338 | 354 |
May 1-5 2017 | 436 | 466 | 339 | 351 |
LIQUID | ||||
Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
May 2-6 2016 | 560 | 589 | 274 | 321 |
May 30-June 3 2016 | 559 | 579 | 268 | 313 |
June 27-July 1 2016 | 554 | 566 | 266 | 304 |
July 25-29 2016 | 543 | 545 | 257 | 304 |
Aug 22-26 2016 | 502 | 515 | 234 | 280 |
Sept 19-23 2016 | 470 | 494 | 225 | 271 |
Oct 17-21 2016 | 453 | 475 | 224 | 265 |
Nov 14-18 2016 | 445 | 466 | 219 | 256 |
Dec 12-16 2016 | 444 | 463 | 219 | 257 |
Jan 9-13 2017 | 437 | 467 | 222 | 258 |
Feb 6-10 2017 | 440 | 485 | 238 | 273 |
Mar 03-10 2017 | 441 | 503 | 246 | 279 |
Apr 3-7 2017 | 441 | 505 | 248 | 280 |
May 1-5 2017 | 436 | 508 | 247 | 280 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
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