DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Fertilizers Continue Trend of Mixed Prices

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The retail price of anhydrous is 17% higher compared to last year, but its price is a bit lower than last month. (DTN graphic)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continue to be fairly mixed, according to prices tracked by DTN for the third week of April 2019. This trend has been in place for several weeks.

Half of the eight major fertilizers' prices were higher compared to last month. As has been the case in recent weeks, the move higher was slight. Potash had an average price of $388/ton, urea $404/ton, 10-34-0 $481/ton and UAN28 $270/ton.

The remaining four fertilizers were lower compared to the prior month, but again the falling price was insignificant. DAP had an average price of $504/ton, MAP $531/ton, anhydrous $594/ton and UAN32 $317/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.

ISSUES WITH ANHYDROUS SUPPLY

As the fertilizer application season progresses, farmers have reported some issues with supply as many people are attempting to apply anhydrous.

Ted Hamer, who farms near Traer, Iowa, reported he was limited to 6 tons a day of anhydrous last week. This would keep him running for 1 hour and 45 minutes with a large applicator covering about 70 acres, he said.

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"This is about 15% of what I would cover in a normal day," Hamer told DTN.

He hoped for better luck this week, but more issues with anhydrous supplies has continued. He was told he could get more anhydrous, but once he got to his retailer there was nothing available.

With this mind, he has switched his game plan and is applying some UAN and will then plant corn. He will come back later and sidedress anhydrous when the supply is more readily available, he said.

Hamer said he will sidedress about 40% of total corn acres. This second application of nitrogen usually works well, unless it's extremely wet during the period of time of sidedressing, he said.

Another possible reason there are issues with anhydrous supplies in his area of east-central Iowa is because the rural roads are in such bad condition, Hamer speculated. Frustrations are high because more fuel is being used just to get the fertilizer to the fields, and the rough road conditions are tough on the trucks hauling fertilizer.

"We had a guy delivering our tanks with a diesel pickup and the transmission on the truck had gotten so hot from driving through the soft spots in the road it just shut down," he said.

HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR

All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year, with prices shifting higher. MAP is 4% more expensive, DAP is 6% higher, both urea and potash are 10% more expensive, both 10-34-0 and UAN28 are 12% higher, UAN32 is 15% more expensive and anhydrous is 17% higher 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
Apr 16-20 2018 484 502 353 368
May 14-18 2018 483 505 354 368
Jun 11-15 2018 484 505 354 364
Jul 9-13 2018 485 504 354 366
Aug 6-10 2018 487 507 356 363
Sep 3-7 2018 488 514 358 366
Oct 1-5 2018 501 523 364 389
Oct 29-Nov 2 2018 506 528 366 408
Nov 26-30 2018 501 530 369 409
Dec 24-28 2018 507 533 379 407
Jan 21-25 2019 512 535 383 409
Feb 18-22 2019 512 536 385 404
Mar 18-22 2019 509 533 386 401
Apr 15-19 2019 504 531 388 404
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Apr 16-20 2018 431 508 240 275
May 14-18 2018 439 510 241 276
Jun 11-15 2018 440 503 241 277
Jul 9-13 2018 443 505 242 279
Aug 6-10 2018 445 482 233 271
Sep 3-7 2018 446 480 232 271
Oct 1-5 2018 451 488 237 279
Oct 29-Nov 2 2018 457 505 245 285
Nov 26-30 2018 457 519 246 287
Dec 24-28 2018 457 568 266 303
Jan 21-25 2019 467 584 270 313
Feb 18-22 2019 470 596 271 317
Mar 18-22 2019 470 597 270 318
Apr 15-19 2019 481 594 270 317

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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Russ Quinn