DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail fertilizer price moves continued to be mixed the third week of September 2020, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. For the second week in a row, prices for five of the eight major fertilizers were lower, while prices for the remaining three nutrients were higher.

Once again, no fertilizer price was up or down a significant amount, which DTN designates as 5% or more.

The five fertilizers that were slightly lower in price were potash with an average price of $344 per ton, 10-34-0 $455/ton, anhydrous $431/ton, UAN28 $219/ton and UAN32 $253/ton.

The three fertilizers that had slightly higher prices included DAP with an average price of $434/ton, MAP $448/ton and urea $360/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.26/lb.N, UAN28 $0.39/lb.N and UAN32 $0.39/lb.N.

While DTN doesn't track micronutrient prices, these fertilizers, which are found in lesser amounts, can still affect crop yield. Therefore, producers have increased applications of these nutrients in recent years. In a recent post in the University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News titled "Is boron deficiency a problem in Minnesota?" author Dan Kaiser, University of Minnesota Extension soil fertility specialist, looks at how boron levels affect yields.

Kaiser wrote that, based on tissue sampling results, some say boron fertilizer is needed to maximize yields for some Minnesota crops. This, however, may not be true, as widespread boron issues do not appear across most of the Corn Belt.

In a three-year study by University of Minnesota researchers, boron was broadcast at 3 pounds per acre on nine irrigated and nine non-irrigated fields across the state over three growing seasons. Average corn grain yield was the same for strips with or without boron applied.

"Based on the data collected, we could not establish a lower limit to a tissue boron concentration sufficiency range," Kaiser wrote. "It was clear, though, that the need for boron is not as widespread as has been reported in recent years."

Soybeans are highly sensitive to boron toxicity, so applying the micronutrient to beans should generally be avoided, he wrote. Multiple soybean research trials across the state showed yield did not increase at most sites with boron applications, and some locations reported yields actually decreased at a few sites.

"Outside of sandy soils, boron is not likely to be deficient and need fertilizer applied," he wrote. "Be careful if you are thinking about applying boron, as some crops are highly sensitive to boron toxicity."

To read the entire University of Minnesota Extension report, click on the following link: https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/…

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be considerably lower in than a year ago. Anhydrous is 15% lower, UAN28 is 14% less expensive, UAN32 is 13% lower, urea is 11% less expensive, both DAP and potash are 10% lower, MAP is 6% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 3% 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
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
Sep 14-18 2020	434	448	344	360
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Sep 14-18 2020	455	431	219	253

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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