DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail fertilizer prices were mostly lower the first week of June 2020, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. However, no prices moved substantially, which DTN designates as 5% in either direction.

Prices for seven fertilizers were slightly lower compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $407 per ton, MAP $431/ton, potash $364/ton, urea $373/ton, anhydrous $475/ton, UAN28 $236/ton and UAN32 $276/ton.

The only fertilizer with a slightly higher average price compared to the prior month was 10-34-0. The starter fertilizer had an average price of $468 per ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.41/lb.N, anhydrous $0.29/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

Sidedressing has become a popular method in the Corn Belt to provide plants nitrogen right before they need it and to limit possible losses. In some cases, the practice might have become popular by necessity, as wet springs have made applying nitrogen a challenge.

In a recent University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News article titled "Things to consider when sidedressing nitrogen," authors Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist, and Brad Carlson, Extension educator, examine the practice and the issues surrounding it.

Minnesota took part in a three-year study across eight Midwestern states that had many conditions and situations for sidedressing. Six of the sites were in Minnesota.

In the study, they observed that split applications made around the V7-V9 development state produced similar yields to pre-plant applications 82% of the time. On 14% of the sites, the split application was better than a single application, while on 4% of the sites, split application was worse than the single application.

"In a different study over a three-year period with 15 sites in Minnesota, it was observed that when split application improved yield, the best time to make the split application was around the V4 to V8 development stage," the article stated. "Later application (V12) had no advantage, and even resulted in a yield reduction on some sites compared to the single pre-plant application."

Another important consideration with sidedressing was the total rate of N that is needed with pre-plant versus a sidedress application.

"In general, people tend to think that a split application is more efficient," the article stated. "However, we have found that nitrogen application timing minimally affects residual soil nitrogen content, uptake by corn, and grain yield."

In other words, regardless of when N is applied, the economically optimum nitrogen rate is similar if you assume the same cost for fertilization, the article said. It is also important to recognize that there is an additional trip across the field for split application, which has a cost.

To read the entire article, click on the following link: https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/….

Retail fertilizers are all lower in price from a year ago. Anhydrous is 20% lower, both DAP and MAP are 18% less expensive, urea is 14% lower, UAN28 is 13% less expensive, UAN32 is 12% lower, potash is 7% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 4% lower from last year at this same time.

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
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
Aug 26-30 2019	491	494	387	412
Sep 23-27, 2019	479	475	384	404
Oct 21-25, 2019	465	473	383	404
Nov 18-22 2019	456	466	381	387
Dec 16-20 2019	444	460	378	377
Jan 13-17 2020	433	444	375	357
Feb 10-14 2020	413	435	373	361
Mar 9-13 2020	407	432	370	377
Apr 6-10 2020	409	434	370	382
May 4-8 2020	413	433	370	388
Jun 1-5 2020	407	431	364	373
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Aug 26-30 2019	470	528	256	290
Sep 23-27, 2019	471	511	254	289
Oct 21-25, 2019	471	507	251	291
Nov 18-22 2019	472	496	245	284
Dec 16-20 2019	469	487	239	276
Jan 13-17 2020	470	487	237	275
Feb 10-14 2020	464	490	235	277
Mar 9-13 2020	466	490	235	278
Apr 6-10 2020	468	492	235	278
May 4-8 2020	468	492	237	280
Jun 1-5 2020	468	475	236	276

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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