DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continue to see extremely small movements with prices for most fertilizers slightly higher the third week of June 2018, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month, but none were up by a significant percentage. DAP had an average price of $485 per ton, MAP $505/ton, potash $354/ton, urea $364/ton, 10-34-0 $440/ton, UAN28 $242/ton and UAN32 $277/ton.

One fertilizer, anhydrous, was lower in price compared to the previous month. As with the higher prices, the price move was just slightly lower. Anhydrous had an average price of $503 per ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.40/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

While price movements have been uneventful, the weather has been an adventure in some areas over recent weeks. Heavy rain across parts of the Corn Belt has led to lots of standing water and crop damage.

Bob Spratt, manager of LeRoy Fertilizer Services located in LeRoy, Illinois, told DTN his region of central Illinois caught some beneficial rains but not the damaging heavy rains other places have seen. He estimated most of his area got around 3.5 inches of rain over the last couple of weeks with the heavier rains falling farther to the east.

"I feel for anyone that is dealing with being too wet," Spratt said. "It is the hardest weather condition to deal with in my opinion."

Too much rain and standing water in cornfields leads to questions about how much nitrogen remains in the soil. Spratt said producers who are dealing with N loss due to leaching and want to apply more nutrients have a few options once the water is gone and the soils are dry.

One option would be to apply urea, either by high-clearance sprayer with a dry box or by airplane. Another option, which Spratt prefers, would be to dribble on liquid N solution with a high-clearance sprayer.

"The crop response with dribbled solution is less leaf burning than with urea," he said.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year. 10-34-0, anhydrous and UAN32 are now up 1%, potash is 4% higher, MAP 7% more expensive, urea is 9% higher and DAP is 11% more expensive compared to last year.

The remaining fertilizer, UAN28, is lower in price compared to a year prior by 1%.

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.

DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
Jun 19-23 2017	436	470	340	333
Jul 17-21 2017	435	464	339	309
Aug 14-18 2017	434	460	338	305
Sep 11-15 2017	431	456	336	310
Oct 9-13 2017	432	453	347	325
Nov 6-10 2017	434	459	341	338
Dec 4-8 2017	438	471	343	344
Jan 1-5 2018	452	490	345	350
Jan 29-Feb 2 2018	458	492	344	355
Feb 26-Mar 2 2018	461	497	346	361
Mar 26-30 2018	470	506	350	370
Apr 23-27 2018	485	504	353	367
May 21-25 2018	483	504	354	364
Jun 18-22 2018	485	505	354	364
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Jun 19-23 2017	435	497	243	273
Jul 17-21 2017	425	425	229	265
Aug 14-18 2017	419	419	216	251
Sep 11-15 2017	416	412	210	248
Oct 9-13 2017	413	397	206	253
Nov 6-10 2017	403	409	216	272
Dec 4-8 2017	404	424	215	251
Jan 1-5 2018	409	474	219	256
Jan 29-Feb 2 2018	415	491	227	261
Feb 26-Mar 2 2018	416	496	233	279
Mar 26-30 2018	425	507	237	272
Apr 23-27 2018	431	507	241	277
May 21-25 2018	439	504	241	276
Jun 18-22 2018	440	503	242	277

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(KD/AG)

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