DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Prices for most retail fertilizers continued to inch higher the fourth week of April 2018. But for a growing number of fertilizers, prices were down from last month, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.

Last week was the first time multiple fertilizers had lower prices in several months. This week, three of the eight major fertilizers were lower in price compared to the previous month. MAP, urea and anhydrous were all slightly lower. MAP had an average price of $504 per ton, urea $367/ton and anhydrous $507/ton.

The remaining five fertilizers saw minor price increases from last month. DAP had an average price of $485 per ton, potash $353/ton, 10-34-0 $431/ton, UAN28 $241/ton and UAN32 $277/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.40/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

With farmers finally able to begin fieldwork in many Corn Belt locations, the topic of nitrogen fertilizer application is a timely one. The April 19 edition of the e-newsletter CropWatch from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) featured an article by several UNL soil specialists titled "Nitrogen Fertilizer Stabilizers in Corn."

UNL researchers have done several different short- and long-term studies on the effectiveness of nitrogen fertilizer stabilizers.

In a 28-year study near Clay Center (in south-central Nebraska), the nitrification inhibitor (NI) nitrapyrin was evaluated along with spring-applied anhydrous on a silt loam soil. A positive yield response was observed 36% of the time. However, a negative yield response was observed 18% of the time with the remaining 46% having no effect on yield.

Urease inhibitors (UI) have also been tested in central Nebraska for the last three years. Urea or urea-ammonium was surface-applied near corn planting time with and without UI.

In all years, using UI decreased potential ammonia volatilization losses from 3.6 to 13.3 pounds of nitrogen per acre less than fertilizer alone. This meant 3%-to-7% of applied N was not lost, according to the article.

Slow-release coated fertilizers were also studied by UNL researchers. A three-year study was conducted in south-central Nebraska in coarse-textured soils to demonstrate the benefit of using poly-coated urea.

This product consistently improved corn yield compared to UAN at various rates of application. Averaged across nitrogen rates, corn yield with the poly-coated urea was greater than UAN by 49%.

"Nitrogen fertilizer stabilizer use will only have a positive impact on yield if weather conditions are conducive to nitrogen losses to the point of nitrogen becoming limiting in relation to crop demand," the article concludes.

For the complete UNL CropWatch article, visit https://cropwatch.unl.edu/….

Half of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices pushing higher in recent months. Both potash and urea are now 4% higher, MAP is 8% more expensive and DAP is 11% higher compared to last year.

The remaining four fertilizers are lower in price compared to a year prior. 10-34-0, anhydrous and UAN32 are all 1% lower, while UAN28 is 3% less expensive looking back a year.

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
Apr 24-28 2017	437	466	338	352
May 22-26 2017	436	471	340	343
Jun 19-23 2017	436	470	340	333
Jul 17-21 2017	435	464	339	309
Aug 14-18 2017	434	460	338	305
Sep 11-15 2017	431	456	336	310
Oct 9-13 2017	432	453	347	325
Nov 6-10 2017	434	459	341	338
Dec 4-8 2017	438	471	343	344
Jan 1-5 2018	452	490	345	350
Jan 29-Feb 2 2018	458	492	344	355
Feb 26-Mar 2 2018	461	497	346	361
Mar 26-30 2018	470	506	350	370
Apr 23-27 2018	485	504	353	367
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Apr 24-28 2017	437	509	247	280
May 22-26 2017	436	503	249	280
Jun 19-23 2017	435	497	243	273
Jul 17-21 2017	425	425	229	265
Aug 14-18 2017	419	419	216	251
Sep 11-15 2017	416	412	210	248
Oct 9-13 2017	413	397	206	253
Nov 6-10 2017	403	409	216	272
Dec 4-8 2017	404	424	215	251
Jan 1-5 2018	409	474	219	256
Jan 29-Feb 2 2018	415	491	227	261
Feb 26-Mar 2 2018	416	496	233	279
Mar 26-30 2018	425	507	237	272
Apr 23-27 2018	431	507	241	277

Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com

Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(AG/BE)

Copyright 2018 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.