DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Most Fertilizer Prices Continue to Move Lower

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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Urea's average retail price was $961 per ton for the second week of June 2022. That's $32 less expensive than last month, but the nitrogen fertilizer is still 81% more expensive than last year. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continued to move just slightly lower the second full week of June 2022, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. This is the third week in a row that most prices were less expensive.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers prices were lower compared to last month, but none were down a considerable amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

DAP had an average price of $1,046 per ton, MAP $1,074/ton, potash $879/ton, urea $961/ton, 10-34-0 $905/ton, anhydrous $1,516/ton and UAN28 $630/ton.

One fertilizer was slightly more expensive compared to last month but nothing significant. UAN32 had an average price of $730/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $1.04/lb.N, anhydrous $0.92/lb.N, UAN28 $1.13/lb.N and UAN32 $1.14/lb.N.

While high fertilizer prices affect crop producers, they also affect those who have pasture and graze livestock. In a post titled "Fertilizer Prices and Pasture/Grazing Management" from Penn State University (PSU) Extension (https://extension.psu.edu/…), those with pasture can implement certain practices to limit their exposure to expensive nutrients.

As with all crops, soil testing remains an important guide to fertility management. Pastures with lower-than-optimal pH should be given priority in the fertilizer budget, the PSU report said.

Manure could be another way around having to purchase expensive commercial fertilizer.

"Manure from wintering barns can be applied on pastures that are deficient in phosphorus and potassium," the PSU report said.

An efficient rotational grazing system will foster nutrient distribution in pastures. Moving livestock to a new paddock every few days will help to distribute manure and urine more efficiently.

Pasture managers can plant legumes within grass pastures to limit their needs on nitrogen fertilizer, according to the report. These plants will limit the amount of nitrogen grasses will need, as legumes will create some nitrogen.

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

10-34-0 is 46% more expensive, MAP is 49% higher, DAP is 58% more expensive, UAN28 is 73% higher, UAN32 is 76% more expensive, urea is 81% is higher, potash is 94% higher and anhydrous is 111% 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.

In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/….

An agreement to extend a $2 million partial trade agreement in the African country of Ghana will help the country's farmers have access to more fertilizer. You can read about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Jun 14-18 2021 661 719 454 531
Jul 12-16 2021 693 730 501 550
Aug 9-13 2021 695 755 563 555
Sep 6-10 2021 699 757 575 558
Oct 4-8 2021 736 829 675 653
Nov 1-5 2021 814 900 750 820
Nov 29-Dec 3 2021 836 918 777 873
Dec 27-31 2021 864 931 809 911
Jan 24-28 2022 877 936 814 910
Feb 21-25 2022 874 934 815 885
Mar 21-25 2022 1014 1018 850 976
Apr 18-22 2022 1050 1079 879 1012
May 16-20 2022 1059 1083 878 993
Jun 13-Jun 17 2022 1046 1074 879 961
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Jun 14-18 2021 621 719 365 414
Jul 12-16 2021 624 725 368 418
Aug 9-13 2021 630 740 366 418
Sep 6-10 2021 631 750 371 422
Oct 4-8 2021 639 803 400 456
Nov 1-5 2021 702 1113 545 604
Nov 29-Dec 3 2021 756 1313 575 661
Dec 27-31 2021 795 1428 583 679
Jan 24-28 2022 817 1492 601 699
Feb 21-25 2022 837 1488 602 703
Mar 21-25 2022 881 1523 622 698
Apr 18-22 2022 906 1534 631 730
May 16-20 2022 906 1529 634 731
Jun 13-Jun 17 2022 905 1516 630 730

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

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Russ Quinn