Russ Quinn

DTN Staff Reporter
Russ Quinn is a DTN editor and reporter. He was born and raised in east central Nebraska on a cow-calf and row-crop farm near Elkhorn, which he still operates with his dad.

Russ attended Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and graduated with an associate's degree in agribusiness and farm management in 1994. He then attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences in 1996.

After graduating, he began working for DTN in May of 1997 in the agriculture telesales department. In May of 1998 he was promoted to his current position in the DTN ag newsroom. Over the years, Russ has had many different editing and reporting duties and currently writes original articles including the growing-season series "View From the Cab" and the weekly column "Russ' Vintage Iron."

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  • Potash was one of the two fertilizers posting lower prices compared to a month ago. Potash had an average price of $494/ton in the latest reporting week. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    For the first time since the second week of February 2026, some retail fertilizer prices are slightly lower compared to a month earlier. Two fertilizers, potash and UAN32, were slightly lower looking back a month. The other six...

  • Complete rural broadband coverage demands utilizing multiple internet delivery methods. (DTN photo by Russ Quinn)

    Rural Resilience - 6

    Federal investment has brought high-speed internet to more parts of rural America since the COVID-19 pandemic, but the digital divide persists.

  • While there is no universal ideal cow size, there are different factors cattle producers can consider when finding the ideal cow size for their operation. (DTN file photo by Jennifer Carrico)

    KSU Specialists Discuss Beef Cow Size

    There is no universal beef cow size, as every cattle producer has different operations and grazing conditions. Extension specialists point to several factors that can help cow-calf producers narrow the window when considering the...

  • Alfalfa producers in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota need to be scouting their fields now for alfalfa weevils. (DTN photo by Jennifer Carrico)

    Alfalfa Weevil Pressure Building

    As warmer temperatures begin to be seen in the Midwest, alfalfa weevil populations could be on the increase. Experts tell alfalfa growers to scout their fields every few days and treat fields with high populations of the pest...

  • The average retail price of anhydrous was $1,118 per ton during the first full week of May 2026, up about 3% from $1,088 a month ago. The price of anhydrous is now up 43% from a year ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Prices of all eight major fertilizers were higher in the first full week of May 2026 compared to a month earlier. However, only one fertilizer was significantly higher, which DTN designates as...

  • The average retail price of UAN28 was $526 per ton during the fourth full week of April 2026, up 6% from a month ago. UAN28 is now 36% more expensive than it was a year ago. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Average retail prices for all eight major fertilizers were up from the previous month during the fourth full week of April 2026. Prices for three fertilizers were again up significantly, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more...

  • Urea prices were 5% more expensive than last month. USDA announced some plans to address fertilizer shortages and high prices facing U.S. farmers. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight major fertilizer prices were higher for the third full week of April 2026 compared to a month earlier. Six fertilizers were again significantly more expensive, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. In a bit of...

  • Urea was 27% higher compared to last month with an average price of $858/ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight major fertilizers were higher for the second week of April 2026 compared to a month earlier. Six fertilizers were significantly more expensive, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. Four fertilizers saw double-digit...

  • A new National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) survey shows farmers are concerned about rising fertilizer costs and availability, not only for the 2026 growing season but also for 2027. (DTN file photo)

    NCGA Survey Shows Fertilizer Concern

    U.S. corn farmers face growing concerns about rising fertilizer costs and availability, according to a new survey released by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) on April 8. Many producers worry about the high costs and...

  • Urea price was a whopping 34% higher compared to last month. The liquid fertilizer had an average price of $838/ton. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    All eight major fertilizers were higher for the last week of March 2026 from a month ago. For the second week in a row, five fertilizers were significantly more expensive, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. Four of the...

  • A recent study from Texas A&M University showed countervailing duties (CVD) on phosphorus fertilizer have cost the U.S. agriculture industry billions of dollars. This increased cost has added pressure on crop producers to maintain profitability. (DTN file photo)

    Fertilizer Duties Pressure US Farmers

    During a recent webinar, the issue of countervailing duties on phosphorus fertilizer and the effects on American farmers was discussed in great depth. An earlier Texas A&M showed countervailing duties increased phosphorus...

  • Complete rural broadband coverage demands utilizing multiple internet delivery methods. (Anthony Greder)

    Rural Broadband Coverage Has Many Solutions and Shortfalls

    Federal investment brings high-speed internet to rural America, but the digital divide persists.

  • Only one fertilizer was lower priced than a month ago. DAP, slightly lower, had an average price of $851 per ton, but is still 11% higher than a year ago. Meanwhile, UAN28 had the biggest increase, as it jumped 15% higher compared to last month. (DTN graphic)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Prices for six of the eight major fertilizers were higher for the third week of March 2026 compared to a month ago. Four fertilizers were significantly more expensive, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. One fertilizer...

  • The average retail price of UAN32 was $489 per ton during the second week of March 2026, up 5% from $465 per ton last month. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Average retail prices for all eight major fertilizers were higher during the second week of March 2026. Prices for half of the fertilizers were up significantly, which DTN designates as anything...

  • After buying bulls and before they go to grass is an important period for them to be in the proper body condition and have the correct nutritional plan before breeding season. (DTN photo by Jennifer Carrico)

    Bull Management Vital After Sale

    So, you bought some well-priced bulls at a bull sale and now they are home. Now what? An Extension specialist recommended some specific bull management strategies to best utilize the time after the bull sale and before they head...

  • Cow-calf producers should be careful not to turn cows out on pastures too early in the spring as grazing growing grass too soon can set pastures up for forage losses. (DTN file photo)

    Grazing Too Early Limits Forage Growth

    Cattle producers feed hay to their herds in late winter, waiting for spring. With the prospect of green grass coming soon, some might want to turn cows out on pastures right away. One Extension specialist recommends letting the...

  • Anhydrous prices averaged $865 per ton in the fourth week of February, up 15% from last year at this time. (DTN chart)

    DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

    Retail fertilizer prices for the fourth week of February 2026 continued to move higher. Seven of the eight major fertilizers were more expensive compared to last month. Only one nutrient, urea, was higher by a considerable...