DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Lower Fertilizer Prices Still the Trend

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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Of eight major fertilizers, 10-34-0 is the only one to move higher this month. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continue mostly lower, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the fourth week of November 2019.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers were lower in price from a month earlier, although once again none were noticeably lower. DAP had an average price of $456/ton, MAP $465/ton, potash $381/ton, urea $386/ton, anhydrous $497/ton, UAN28 $245/ton and UAN32 $277/ton.

The remaining fertilizer was slightly higher than last month. 10-34-0 had an average price of $472/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.42/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

Harvest occurred on many wet soils this fall across a good portion of the Corn Belt and this could affect how farmers apply fertilizer. In a post titled "How Soil Compaction Impacts Fertilizer Decisions" University of Minnesota Extension specialist Dan Kaiser, Extension educator Brad Carlson and soil scientist Jeff Vetsch tackled this subject.

Compaction creates barriers that limit root growth, impacting the uptake of nutrients and thus limiting yields. Most nutrients with limited mobility in the soil move via diffusion through soil water and compaction makes the soil less porous, which could affect the movement of some nutrients.

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"Data from Wisconsin has shown adding potassium to the soil increases alfalfa yield," the report stated. "Other data has shown a similar link between increased yield and higher levels of magnesium (Mg) in compacted situations."

The University of Minnesota does not have specific research-based recommendations for compacted soils, according to the report.

One method of avoiding fertilizer loss due to compaction issues is to delay fertilizer application until the field is in better condition. Applying fertilizer in the spring instead of in the fall will likely decrease the likelihood of nitrogen losses.

The report said research has shown severe compaction can affect yield for many years and the best plan is to try to avoid severe compaction at all costs. This may test your patience at the moment but longer term your crops will thank you for years to come, the report concludes.

The entire University of Minnesota Extension report can be viewed at https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/….

Retail fertilizers are mixed in price from a year ago. MAP is now 12% less expensive, DAP is 9% lower, urea is 6% less expensive, anhydrous is 4% lower, UAN32 is 3% less expensive and UAN28 is 1% lower from last year at this time. In addition, both potash and 10-34-0 are 3% more expensive 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
Nov 26-30 2018 501 530 369 409
Dec 24-28 2018 507 533 379 407
Jan 21-25 2019 512 535 383 409
Feb 18-22 2019 512 536 385 404
Mar 18-22 2019 509 533 386 401
Apr 15-19 2019 504 531 388 404
May 13-17 2019 498 526 392 426
Jun 10-14 2019 497 527 392 434
Jul 8-12, 2019 497 532 392 431
Aug 5-9 2019 495 531 395 428
Sep 2-6 2019 491 488 387 408
Sep 30-Oct 4, 2019 476 474 384 404
Oct 28-Nov 1 2019 464 472 383 402
Nov 25-29 2019 456 465 381 386
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Nov 26-30 2018 457 519 246 287
Dec 24-28 2018 457 568 266 303
Jan 21-25 2019 467 584 270 313
Feb 18-22 2019 470 596 271 317
Mar 18-22 2019 470 597 270 318
Apr 15-19 2019 481 594 270 317
May 13-17 2019 487 595 267 311
Jun 10-14 2019 487 591 271 314
Jul 8-12, 2019 485 585 276 317
Aug 5-9 2019 491 580 272 320
Sep 2-6 2019 473 522 255 290
Sep 30-Oct 4, 2019 470 511 253 289
Oct 28-Nov 1 2019 468 503 251 291
Nov 25-29 2019 472 497 245 277

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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Russ Quinn