DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- The upward momentum in fertilizer prices appeared to level off this week. The average retail price of all eight major fertilizers increased; however, none were up a significant amount, which DTN considers a price move of 5% or more.

This is the first week since the beginning of February that no fertilizer's price was up by double-digit percentage points.

For the second week of April 2021, the average retail prices of anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32 increased by 4%. Anhydrous had an average price of $700/ton, UAN28 $345/ton and UAN32 $387/ton.

One interesting note was the anhydrous price at $700/ton. The last time it was this high was the fifth week of June 2015. The price that week was $705/ton.

Urea prices increased 3% to $509/ton, while 10-34-0 increased 2% to an average price of $609/ton.

DAP had an average price of $624/ton, MAP $702/ton and potash $432/ton. All represented a 1% increase.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.55/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.62/lb.N and UAN32 $0.60/lb.N.

The higher cost of retail fertilizer is making other forms of nutrients more attractive. In an article titled "Fertilizer Costs Make Manure Look Better," Ohio State University Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Assistant Matthew Nussbaum wrote farmers should consider manure as another choice for nutrients for crops.

Nussbaum said if farmers do choose manure for a fertilizer source, there are certain practices they should utilize. These would include proper storage methods and incorporating applied manure within 24 hours of application when possible.

"A study by the University of Minnesota showed that 40% of manure nitrogen is lost after sitting on the field surface for more than four days," Nussbaum wrote. "Other studies have shown that simply disking over surface applications is enough incorporation to reduce nitrogen loss."

Nussbaum said having a manure analysis done is another important practice. Manure nutrient levels vary widely among livestock species, time of year and management practices, he said.

To read the entire article, click on the following link: https://wayne.osu.edu/….

With retail fertilizer prices moving higher over recent months, all fertilizers are now higher in price from a year ago.

Potash is now 17% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 30% higher, urea is 33% more expensive, UAN32 39% higher, anhydrous is 42% more expensive, UAN28 is 46% higher, DAP is 52% more expensive and MAP 62% is higher compared to last year.

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
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
Aug 31-Sep 4 2020	431	442	348	361
Sep 28-Oct 2 2020	439	459	338	362
Oct 26-30 2020	448	477	332	358
Nov 23-27 2020	456	495	337	359
Dec 21-25 2020	474	535	365	363
Jan 18-22 2021	493	563	379	387
Feb 15-19 2021	600	648	404	457
Mar 15-19 2021	616	693	424	496
Apr 12-16 2021	624	702	432	509
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Aug 31-Sep 4 2020	459	436	216	254
Sep 28-Oct 2 2020	457	424	212	250
Oct 26-30 2020	456	423	209	249
Nov 23-27 2020	457	424	210	249
Dec 21-25 2020	463	461	210	250
Jan 18-22 2021	481	482	215	251
Feb 15-19 2021	522	530	245	288
Mar 15-19 2021	596	671	331	373
Apr 12-16 2021	609	700	345	387

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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