DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

DAP, MAP Prices Move Higher While Others Follow Seasonally Lower Trends

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The price of UAN28, at $220 per ton this week, is following its seasonal downward trend, but prices are nearly $30 per ton below the fertilizer's five-year average. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continued to be mixed the third week of August 2020, with six prices falling and two increasing, one of them significantly, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.

Of the six fertilizers that were lower in price compared to last month, none were down a noteworthy amount, which DTN designates as 5% or more. Potash has an average price of $353 per ton, down $7; urea $356/ton, down $2; 10-34-0 $465/ton, down $1; anhydrous $445/ton, down $5; UAN28 $220/ton, down $5 and UAN32 $259/ton, down $4.

DAP and MAP prices were both higher than last month, with DAP price increasing $20/ton, or 5%, to $427/ton. MAP was $434/ton, up $6 from last month.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.27/lb.N, UAN28 $0.39/lb.N and UAN32 $0.40/lb.N.

As summer is quickly turning to fall and retail fertilizer prices are at multiple-year lows, it is natural farmers might consider pre-purchasing at least some of their fertilizer needs for the fall or spring -- or both. Some producers utilize this business practice while others do not.

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One farmer who already locked in a portion of his fertilizer needs for the 2021 growing season is Jay Culver, who farms near Iroquois, South Dakota.

He has already purchased both nitrogen (UAN28 and dry) and phosphorous. Late summer is when he tries to fill up on UAN28, and this year, he locked in dry nitrogen fertilizer for next spring as well.

"Compared to local historical prices, it's just hard to think there is much for downside risk right now," Culver told DTN. "Also, a local provider had a nice offer as far as payment structure."

Culver said he purchased phosphorus since these prices are as low as they have been for quite some time. He was finally able to plant some additional acres this year since moisture let up on his east-central South Dakota this spring, he said.

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be considerably lower in price from a year ago. Anhydrous is 16% lower, both urea and UAN28 are 14% less expensive, DAP is 13% lower, MAP is 12% less expensive, UAN32 is 11% lower, potash is 9% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 2% lower than 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 19-23 2019 491 495 387 413
Sep 16-20 2019 480 478 384 404
Oct 14-18, 2019 465 472 382 402
Nov 11-15 2019 457 465 382 388
Dec 9-13 2019 445 463 378 380
Jan 6-10 2020 435 444 375 358
Feb 3-7 2020 413 435 373 361
Mar 2-6 2020 409 432 369 369
Mar 30-Apr 3 2020 408 432 370 383
Apr 27-May 1 2020 413 433 370 386
May 25-29 2020 410 434 365 377
Jun 22-26 2020 404 429 363 359
Jul 20-24, 2020 407 428 360 358
Aug 17-21 2020 427 434 353 356
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Aug 19-23 2019 475 530 257 291
Sep 16-20 2019 471 509 254 289
Oct 14-18, 2019 471 507 253 289
Nov 11-15 2019 473 496 246 284
Dec 9-13 2019 470 489 241 276
Jan 6-10 2020 471 486 237 272
Feb 3-7 2020 464 490 235 277
Mar 2-6 2020 466 490 235 277
Mar 30-Apr 3 2020 467 492 235 278
Apr 27-May 1 2020 468 492 237 279
May 25-29 2020 468 478 236 279
Jun 22-26 2020 468 463 233 273
Jul 20-24, 2020 466 460 225 263
Aug 17-21 2020 465 445 220 259

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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Russ Quinn