DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Nitrogen fertilizers maintained their spot as the clear leaders as average retail fertilizer prices continued to climb higher the fourth week of November 2021, according to sellers surveyed by DTN.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers recorded considerable moves higher compared to last month. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Leading the way higher was anhydrous, which was up a mammoth 33% from a month prior. The nitrogen fertilizer's average price was $1,308 per ton, which continues to be all-time high in the DTN data set.

UAN32 was 26% more expensive compared to last month with the average price at $660/ton, an all-time high. UAN28 was 25% higher compared to last month with the average price of $574/ton, also an all-time high.

Urea was 16% more expensive compared to last month with an average price of $868/ton. This is also an all-time high in our data. 10-34-0 was 14% more expense looking back to last month with an average price of $755/ton.

Prices for a couple fertilizers were "only" single digits higher. Potash was 6% higher than last month with an average price of $775/ton. MAP was up 5% from last month and had an average price of $915/ton.

One fertilizer, DAP, had just a slight price increase. The phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $830/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.94/lb.N, anhydrous $0.80/lb.N, UAN28 $1.02/lb.N and UAN32 $1.03/lb.N.

Last week, University of Minnesota Extension educators offered tips to become more efficient with nitrogen fertilizers. And this week, University of Missouri Extension offered similar tips with high phosphorus (P) and potash (K) prices.

In a post titled "Managing potassium and phosphorus when prices are high," University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory outlined a few ways producers can reduce their P and K costs (https://extension.missouri.edu/…).

Lory said farmers should not apply fertilizer to fields that are at or above optimum soil test levels. Research has found that soils at optimum soil test levels of P and K do not see increases in yield from the fertilizer applied that year.

"Why not take advantage of this benefit in a year when the price is so high," Lory asked.

If producers are not comfortable applying nothing, he suggests a second option might be to cut the fertilizer application rate by 50% or less of removal rate. Most yield responses to fertilizer is driven by the first 30% to 5% of the fertilizer applied.

Another option would be to learn more about fertilizer response. Lory suggests Missouri producers work with the MU Certified Strip Trial Program and put strips out in the field with and without P or K.

If applied to a whole field, the amount of P/K applied would drop by 50%. Strip trial program participants work with Lory and his team to document if fertilized strips have higher yield than the unfertilized strips.

"Our expectation is a field with optimum soil test will have no increase in yield on the fertilized strips," he said. "This test confirms MU Extension recommendations are working as expected on your field and contributes to a statewide effect to document fertilizer responses on Missouri farms."

Compared to a year ago, retail fertilizer prices all have increased significantly, with prices for some fertilizers increasing well over 100%.

10-34-0 is now 65% more expensive, DAP is 82% higher, MAP is 85% more expensive, potash is 130% higher, urea is 142% more expensive, UAN32 is 165% higher, UAN28 173% is more expensive and anhydrous is 208% higher compared to last year.

DTN surveys more than 300 retailers, gathering roughly 1,700 fertilizer price bids, to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index each week. In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/….

University of Minnesota Extension offered a top-five tips to corn producers to improve their fertilizer efficiency with high fertilizer prices. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
May 10-14 2021	631	702	437	515
Jun 7-11 2021	656	717	450	527
Jul 5-9 2021	690	729	491	549
Aug 2-6 2021	695	755	557	556
Aug 30-Sep 3 2021	697	756	571	557
Sep 27-Oct 1 2021	722	800	647	620
Oct 25-29 2021	812	873	731	751
Nov 22-26 2021	830	915	775	868
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
May 10-14 2021	620	713	361	406
Jun 7-11 2021	620	718	363	414
Jul 5-9 2021	624	732	371	421
Aug 2-6 2021	631	738	367	418
Aug 30-Sep 3 2021	632	749	371	420
Sep 27-Oct 1 2021	638	782	388	444
Oct 25-29 2021	663	982	458	522
Nov 22-26 2021	755	1308	574	660

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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