DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends
Most Fertilizer Prices Remain Lower First Week of August
OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN remained mostly lower the first week of August 2020 compared to last month. Once again, most of the moves in price were fairly minor.
One fertilizer that did have a significant price move (which DTN designates at 5% or more) was UAN28. The price of the liquid nitrogen fertilizer decreased 5% from a month ago. UAN28 had an average retail price of $222 per ton the first week of August.
Prices for five other fertilizers were lower compared to last month, but none were down a notable amount. Potash had an average price of $357 per ton, urea $354/ton, 10-34-0 $465/ton, anhydrous $455/ton and UAN32 $262/ton.
Two fertilizers were slightly higher in price compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $416/ton and MAP $430/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.28/lb.N, UAN28 $0.40/lb.N and UAN32 $0.41/lb.N.
A new fertilizer application rule in Minnesota is set to go into effect this fall. In 2019, the Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner signed the Groundwater Protection Rule (GPR) with the goal of minimizing potential sources of nitrate pollution to the state's groundwater, according to a recent post in the University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News blog.
"One impact of this rule for farmers and agronomists is a restriction on the application of nitrogen fertilizer in the fall and on frozen soils in certain areas of the state starting Sept. 1, 2020," the blog reported.
These areas are mostly in north-central, southeast and southwest parts of the state but also includes smaller locations across the state. The northern third of Minnesota is excluded from the restrictions on fall nitrogen applications, the blog said.
However, not all nitrogen fertilizers applied in the fall are banned from these areas. There are specific exceptions that allow fall application of nitrogen to establish winter grains or perennial crops and when applying DAP, MAP or micronutrient formulations, up to a field average of 40 lbs./acre in the fall.
In addition, the rate of 40 lbs./acre does not apply to fields with "low" or "very low" soil test phosphorus values. All of the exceptions can be found on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website.
To read the entire University of Minnesota Extension post, click on the following link: https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/….
Retail fertilizer prices continue to be considerably lower in price from a year ago. Anhydrous is 22% lower, both MAP and UAN28 are 19% less expensive, UAN32 is 18% lower, urea is 17% less expensive, DAP is 16% lower, potash is 10% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 5% lower from last year at this 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 |
| 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 |
| Dec 23-27 2019 | 443 | 454 | 377 | 378 |
| Jan 20-24 2020 | 413 | 435 | 374 | 357 |
| Feb 17-21 2020 | 410 | 435 | 373 | 361 |
| Mar 16-20 2020 | 408 | 433 | 370 | 382 |
| Apr 13-17 2020 | 410 | 433 | 370 | 384 |
| May 11-15 2020 | 413 | 433 | 370 | 388 |
| Jun 8-12 2020 | 406 | 430 | 363 | 367 |
| Jul 6-10 2020 | 405 | 427 | 360 | 360 |
| Aug 3-7 2020 | 416 | 430 | 357 | 354 |
| LIQUID | ||||
| Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
| 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 |
| Dec 23-27 2019 | 469 | 488 | 240 | 276 |
| Jan 20-24 2020 | 470 | 487 | 237 | 275 |
| Feb 17-21 2020 | 464 | 490 | 235 | 277 |
| Mar 16-20 2020 | 466 | 491 | 235 | 278 |
| Apr 13-17 2020 | 468 | 492 | 236 | 279 |
| May 11-15 2020 | 468 | 492 | 237 | 280 |
| Jun 8-12 2020 | 468 | 472 | 235 | 276 |
| Jul 6-10 2020 | 467 | 461 | 233 | 272 |
| Aug 3-7 2020 | 465 | 455 | 222 | 262 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
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