DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

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.

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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