DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the second week of April 2022 show all eight major fertilizers had higher prices than the previous month. This has been the trend in recent weeks.

Leading the way higher was DAP. The phosphorus fertilizer was 8% more expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $1,047/ton, which is an all-time high price in the DTN data set.

Two fertilizer prices were also significantly higher compared to last month. DTN designates a significant move as 5% or more.

MAP and urea were both 7% higher than in late March. MAP had average price of $1,071/ton while urea is at $1,017/ton (all-time high).

The remaining five fertilizers were slightly higher looking back to last month. Potash had an average price of $875/ton, 10-34-0 $906/ton, anhydrous $1,534/ton (all-time high), UAN28 $630/ton (all-time high) and UAN32 $730/ton (all-time high).

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $1.11/lb.N, anhydrous $0.94/lb.N, UAN28 $1.13/lb.N and UAN32 $1.14/lb.N.

Those who grew crops in drought areas last year might see an unusual opportunity this spring. Last year's dry weather may have led to a nitrogen carryover credit that is not normally there, according to University of Minnesota Extension.

When there is enough of a water deficit in the soil profile that melting snow and spring rains do not saturate the soil, there is less risk of nitrogen loss, which means farmers might be able to take a nitrogen credit. It is anticipated this may be the case at some point this year or next following the dry conditions experienced in much of state of Minnesota in 2021.

"Minnesota Valley Testing Labs conducted soil nitrate tests last fall and generously shared their data with us," a University of Minnesota Extension report said. "Over 70% of the nearly 240 samples analyzed had an N credit of at least 35 pounds. Nearly 30% of the samples had N credits of 155 pounds or more."

University of Minnesota research going back to the early 1990s recommends producers use a pre-plant soil nitrate test (PPNT) in two certain situations. One would be in fields with a long-term manure application history and two would be in continuous corn following a drought.

"If you are growing corn this year, remember to request and use the PPNT, which gives results in ppm nitrate, and not the pre-sugar beet test, which gives results in pounds per acre," the report said. "For similar reasons, you should not use recommendations from out-of-state, as the interpretation of the test results may not be correlated to the test protocol used in Minnesota."

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

Most fertilizers continue to be considerably higher in price than one year earlier.

10-34-0 is 49% more expensive, MAP is 53% higher, DAP is 68% more expensive, UAN28 is 83% higher, UAN32 is 89% more expensive, urea is 100% is higher, potash is 103% higher and anhydrous is 119% more expensive compared to last year.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.

We take a look at how close three fertilizers are their all-time highs here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Dry
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
Dec 20-24 2021	862	932	807	910
Jan 17-21 2022	863	932	807	916
Feb 14-18 2022	874	935	815	891
Mar 14-18 2022	970	1001	843	954
April 11-15 2022	1047	1071	875	1017
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Dec 20-24 2021	791	1424	583	679
Jan 17-21 2022	800	1433	585	683
Feb 14-18 2022	837	1488	603	703
Mar 14-18 2022	876	1520	610	706

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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