DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the second week of October, 2019, continue to be slightly lower. Prices have moved lower for nine straight weeks.

All eight fertilizers were once again lower in price compared to last month. As with the last few weeks, no fertilizer was down a significant amount, which DTN designates as 5% or more.

DAP had an average price of $472/ton, down $14; MAP $473/ton, down $9; potash $383/ton, down $2; urea $403/ton, down $4; 10-34-0 $470/ton, down $1; anhydrous $509/ton, down $7; UAN28 $253/ton and UAN32 $289/ton, both down less than $1.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.44/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.45/lb.N and UAN32 $0.45/lb.N.

As retail fertilizer prices have dropped in recent months, farmers are considering purchasing fertilizer. In certain cases, some farmers have already bought nutrients.

Wayne Martin, who farms near Shelby, Iowa, told DTN he purchased his spring UAN28 needs roughly three weeks ago. The price was lower than he paid last year, he said.

"Last year's prices was attractive, so this year being lower was an easy decision to jump and get it bought," Martin said. "My retailer thought this price would be the best of all season."

Martin will most likely purchase some liquid phosphorus (P) and liquid potash (K) after harvest to be applied next spring.

Another southwest Iowa farmer who bought some fertilizer was Mike Carlson. The Red Oak, Iowa, farmer said he already has booked his anhydrous needs for the 2020 crop.

With the late start to harvest in the region, most of this fertilizer could end being applied in the spring, unless there's an unexpected wide fertilizer application season this fall.

"I haven't seen lower prices at the local coop," Carlson told DTN. "They're about the same (price) as last year."

As for P and K, Carlson said he will apply these nutrients in the dry form either in the fall or the spring, weather permitting. He will buy these nutrients as he needs them and will go with the cheapest supplier, he said.

With prices significantly lower in recent months, two fertilizers' prices dropped to being lower in price from a year ago. MAP is now 10% less expensive and DAP is 6% lower from last year at this time.

The remaining six major fertilizers continue to be slightly higher compared to last year. Both UAN32 and urea are 3% more expensive, both anhydrous and 10-34-0 are 4% higher, potash is 5% more expensive and UAN28 is 6% 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
Oct 8-12 2018	501	523	365	393
Nov 5-9 2018	506	529	368	407
Dec 3-7 2018	501	529	369	410
Dec 31-Jan 4 2019	508	533	381	407
Jan 28-Feb 1 2019	513	536	384	407
Feb 25-Mar 01 2019	511	535	386	404
Mar 25-29 2019	509	534	385	401
Apr 22-26 2019	497	530	388	408
May 20-24 2019	497	527	392	428
Jun 17-21 2019	496	532	392	435
Jul 15-19, 2019	497	532	392	430
Aug 12-16 2019	493	503	387	413
Sep 9-13 2019	486	482	385	407
Oct 7-11, 2019	472	473	383	403
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Oct 8-12 2018	452	488	238	280
Nov 5-9 2018	458	517	245	287
Dec 3-7 2018	457	524	249	293
Dec 31-Jan 4 2019	460	571	267	304
Jan 28-Feb 1 2019	468	585	271	313
Feb 25-Mar 01 2019	470	596	270	318
Mar 25-29 2019	470	597	269	318
Apr 22-26 2019	483	594	268	315
May 20-24 2019	487	595	270	314
Jun 17-21 2019	487	589	270	318
Jul 15-19, 2019	485	585	275	317
Aug 12-16 2019	475	543	258	295
Sep 9-13 2019	471	516	253	289
Oct 7-11, 2019	470	509	253	289

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(KD\CZ)

Copyright 2019 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.