DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends
Most Fertilizer Prices Still Higher
OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail fertilizer prices continued mostly higher the last week of July 2018, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. However, for the first time in several weeks, multiple fertilizers did show slightly lower prices compared to a month ago.
Five of the eight major fertilizers were slightly higher than last month. DAP had an average price of $488 per ton, MAP $505/ton, potash $355/ton, urea $366/ton and 10-34-0 $443/ton.
Three fertilizers were slightly lower from the previous month. Anhydrous had an average price of $498 per ton, UAN28 $242/ton and UAN32 $279/ton.
One interesting thing to note is the price of anhydrous. The nitrogen fertilizer's price of $498 per ton was under $500 per ton for the first time since the first week of March 2018 when the price was $499 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 $0.44/lb.N.
Since midsummer is when some farmers begin to lock in their fertilizer prices for the upcoming growing season, we thought it would be interesting to pick the brains of a few farmers to see what their nutrient-buying strategies are with fertilizer prices where they are currently. Not surprisingly, most are holding off locking in fertilizer at this time.
Joel Grams grows corn and soybeans near Minden, Nebraska. He said since he doesn't usually apply fertilizer in the fall, he hasn't thought much about his nutrient needs for the 2019 growing season, at least not yet.
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"I haven't done anything with fertilizer, or even given it much thought yet," Grams told DTN.
Grams said he remains busy focusing on getting his 2018 crop to harvest on his south-central Nebraska farm.
Looking ahead to the next growing season, he said he has paid for some of his fertilizer needs in late winter in recent years. He locks in a price at that time and then pays some money down on the contract. Grams said he'll most likely do the same thing for the upcoming 2019 growing season.
All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices shifting higher in recent months. 10-34-0 is 4% higher, potash is 5% more expensive, UAN32 is 6% higher, UAN28 is 7% more expensive, MAP is 9% higher, DAP is 12% more expensive, urea is 18% higher and anhydrous is 19% more expensive 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.
DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):
DRY | ||||
Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
Jul 31-Aug 4 2017 | 434 | 463 | 339 | 311 |
Aug 28-Sept 1 2017 | 433 | 457 | 338 | 303 |
Sep 15-29 2017 | 432 | 453 | 348 | 321 |
Oct 23-27 2017 | 431 | 453 | 347 | 325 |
Nov 20-24 2017 | 435 | 460 | 342 | 338 |
Dec 18-22 2017 | 445 | 485 | 344 | 348 |
Jan 15-19 2018 | 456 | 491 | 345 | 355 |
Feb 12-16 2018 | 457 | 495 | 345 | 357 |
Mar 12-16 2018 | 466 | 503 | 350 | 368 |
Apr 9-13 2018 | 482 | 504 | 353 | 369 |
May 7-11 2018 | 483 | 505 | 354 | 366 |
Jun 4-8 2018 | 484 | 505 | 354 | 364 |
Jul 2-6 2018 | 485 | 504 | 354 | 366 |
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018 | 488 | 505 | 355 | 366 |
LIQUID | ||||
Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
Jul 31-Aug 4 2017 | 426 | 418 | 227 | 262 |
Aug 28-Sept 1 2017 | 418 | 417 | 215 | 248 |
Sep 15-29 2017 | 413 | 396 | 208 | 243 |
Oct 23-27 2017 | 407 | 393 | 205 | 262 |
Nov 20-24 2017 | 403 | 410 | 216 | 272 |
Dec 18-22 2017 | 405 | 461 | 218 | 254 |
Jan 15-19 2018 | 407 | 485 | 226 | 260 |
Feb 12-16 2018 | 415 | 492 | 230 | 264 |
Mar 12-16 2018 | 421 | 503 | 237 | 282 |
Apr 9-13 2018 | 427 | 510 | 241 | 275 |
May 7-11 2018 | 431 | 512 | 241 | 276 |
Jun 4-8 2018 | 440 | 503 | 241 | 276 |
Jul 2-6 2018 | 443 | 505 | 242 | 279 |
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018 | 443 | 498 | 242 | 279 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
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