DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends
Anhydrous Price Hits $700 Per Ton for First Time Since 2015
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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