DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail fertilizer prices continued to be mostly higher the second week of February 2019, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. But with only six of the eight major fertilizers moving higher, this breaks a string of four consecutive weeks where all fertilizers were higher.

None of the six fertilizers' prices were up by a significant amount from last month. MAP had an average price of $537 per ton, potash $385/ton, 10-34-0 $470/ton, anhydrous $596/ton, UAN28 $271/ton and UAN32 $318/ton.

The remaining two fertilizers were slightly lower in price compared to the previous month. DAP had an average price of $512 per ton and urea $405 per ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.44/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.48/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

One often-overlooked nutrient is sulfur. Newer research shows season-long availability of the nutrient is vital for most crops. You can learn more about the importance of sulfur to crop health by reading the article "Sulfur Fertilizers: One Vital Nutrient" at: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

DTN is not alone in writing about this nutrient. The University of Minnesota (UM) Extension has written about sulfur and crops twice in February so far in the Minnesota Crop News segment.

In a post titled "What source of sulfur is right for you?" from Feb. 1, UM nutrient management Extension specialist Dan Kaiser wrote that selecting the right source of sulfur is critical.

"Rapid uptake of sulfur occurs in corn from V5 to early silking when 50% of sulfur needed by corn is taken up," Kaiser wrote. "Roughly 10% of sulfur needed by corn is taken up prior to V5, but this timeframe is still critical and deficiencies early in the growing season can limit yield -- particularly in cool and wet springs."

Read the UM Extension blog here:

https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/…

Then, on Feb. 15, in a Minnesota Crop News segment, Kaiser wrote another post titled "Can fall sulfur application work for you?"

Read the post here:

https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/…

While the sulfate form of sulfur is mobile in the soil, there are a few things to consider when deciding which source of sulfur to choose and when to apply.

Kaiser wrote that if the soil has a sandy texture or is silt loam, farmers should delay sulfur application to the spring. If applying a sulfate form in the fall, then it should be applied near the upper end of the suggested range in case there is some movement of sulfate near the roots in the growing season.

"Due to the leaching potential of sulfate, some growers and retailers prefer to apply elemental sulfur with fall applications," he wrote. "While elemental sulfur presents a low risk of loss, it is not a readily available form of sulfur which crops can use."

All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices shifting higher. MAP is 8% more expensive, both DAP and potash are 12% higher, both urea and 10-34-0 is 13% more expensive, UAN28 is 18% higher and both anhydrous and UAN32 is now 21% 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.

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
Aug 27-31 2018	487	513	357	365
Sep 24-28 2018	494	520	361	385
Oct 22-26 2018	499	518	366	406
Nov 19-23 2018	501	530	368	407
Dec 17-21 2018	508	532	377	407
Jan 14-18 2019	512	534	383	407
Feb 11-15 2019	512	537	385	405
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Aug 27-31 2018	446	480	233	271
Sep 24-28 2018	449	493	236	278
Oct 22-26 2018	457	499	243	284
Nov 19-23 2018	457	520	246	287
Dec 17-21 2018	457	565	265	304
Jan 14-18 2019	462	580	270	305
Feb 11-15 2019	470	596	271	318

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(AG/BAS)

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