DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends
Fertilizer Prices Sink for 9th Consecutive Week
OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the second week of October, 2019, continue to be slightly lower. Prices have moved lower for nine straight weeks.
All eight fertilizers were once again lower in price compared to last month. As with the last few weeks, no fertilizer was down a significant amount, which DTN designates as 5% or more.
DAP had an average price of $472/ton, down $14; MAP $473/ton, down $9; potash $383/ton, down $2; urea $403/ton, down $4; 10-34-0 $470/ton, down $1; anhydrous $509/ton, down $7; UAN28 $253/ton and UAN32 $289/ton, both down less than $1.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.44/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.45/lb.N and UAN32 $0.45/lb.N.
As retail fertilizer prices have dropped in recent months, farmers are considering purchasing fertilizer. In certain cases, some farmers have already bought nutrients.
Wayne Martin, who farms near Shelby, Iowa, told DTN he purchased his spring UAN28 needs roughly three weeks ago. The price was lower than he paid last year, he said.
"Last year's prices was attractive, so this year being lower was an easy decision to jump and get it bought," Martin said. "My retailer thought this price would be the best of all season."
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Martin will most likely purchase some liquid phosphorus (P) and liquid potash (K) after harvest to be applied next spring.
Another southwest Iowa farmer who bought some fertilizer was Mike Carlson. The Red Oak, Iowa, farmer said he already has booked his anhydrous needs for the 2020 crop.
With the late start to harvest in the region, most of this fertilizer could end being applied in the spring, unless there's an unexpected wide fertilizer application season this fall.
"I haven't seen lower prices at the local coop," Carlson told DTN. "They're about the same (price) as last year."
As for P and K, Carlson said he will apply these nutrients in the dry form either in the fall or the spring, weather permitting. He will buy these nutrients as he needs them and will go with the cheapest supplier, he said.
With prices significantly lower in recent months, two fertilizers' prices dropped to being lower in price from a year ago. MAP is now 10% less expensive and DAP is 6% lower from last year at this time.
The remaining six major fertilizers continue to be slightly higher compared to last year. Both UAN32 and urea are 3% more expensive, both anhydrous and 10-34-0 are 4% higher, potash is 5% more expensive and UAN28 is 6% higher compared to last 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.
DRY | ||||
Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
Oct 8-12 2018 | 501 | 523 | 365 | 393 |
Nov 5-9 2018 | 506 | 529 | 368 | 407 |
Dec 3-7 2018 | 501 | 529 | 369 | 410 |
Dec 31-Jan 4 2019 | 508 | 533 | 381 | 407 |
Jan 28-Feb 1 2019 | 513 | 536 | 384 | 407 |
Feb 25-Mar 01 2019 | 511 | 535 | 386 | 404 |
Mar 25-29 2019 | 509 | 534 | 385 | 401 |
Apr 22-26 2019 | 497 | 530 | 388 | 408 |
May 20-24 2019 | 497 | 527 | 392 | 428 |
Jun 17-21 2019 | 496 | 532 | 392 | 435 |
Jul 15-19, 2019 | 497 | 532 | 392 | 430 |
Aug 12-16 2019 | 493 | 503 | 387 | 413 |
Sep 9-13 2019 | 486 | 482 | 385 | 407 |
Oct 7-11, 2019 | 472 | 473 | 383 | 403 |
Liquid | ||||
Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
Oct 8-12 2018 | 452 | 488 | 238 | 280 |
Nov 5-9 2018 | 458 | 517 | 245 | 287 |
Dec 3-7 2018 | 457 | 524 | 249 | 293 |
Dec 31-Jan 4 2019 | 460 | 571 | 267 | 304 |
Jan 28-Feb 1 2019 | 468 | 585 | 271 | 313 |
Feb 25-Mar 01 2019 | 470 | 596 | 270 | 318 |
Mar 25-29 2019 | 470 | 597 | 269 | 318 |
Apr 22-26 2019 | 483 | 594 | 268 | 315 |
May 20-24 2019 | 487 | 595 | 270 | 314 |
Jun 17-21 2019 | 487 | 589 | 270 | 318 |
Jul 15-19, 2019 | 485 | 585 | 275 | 317 |
Aug 12-16 2019 | 475 | 543 | 258 | 295 |
Sep 9-13 2019 | 471 | 516 | 253 | 289 |
Oct 7-11, 2019 | 470 | 509 | 253 | 289 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
(KD/CZ)
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