DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first week of May 2016 continue to remain constant. Retail fertilizer prices have been unwavering for four consecutive weeks now.

Five fertilizers slipped lower while the other three fertilizers were higher compared to last month. None of the five fertilizers moved by any consequence. DAP averaged $475/ton, MAP $502/ton, potash $366/ton, urea $385/ton and 10-34-0 $560/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers were higher compared to the month earlier but again the move was fairly minor. Anhydrous averaged $589/ton, UAN28 $274/ton and UAN32 $321/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.42/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.49/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

With tight crop margins in place for the 2016 growing season, the natural reaction to counter this issue for some corn farmers would be to tighten the input spending belt. For many, they would probably start with cutting back some on fertilizer applications.

This is not true for others like Phil Cater, who farms near New Era, Michigan. He told DTN he is not planning on cutting back on a fertility program on his corn acres on his west central Michigan farm.

"Our light textured sands challenge us to feed the crop well, we just don't have a lot, or really any, reserve fertility," Carter said.

Carter broadcasts dry potash with a hydra-hume (a fertilizer adjuvant that improves the performance of liquid fertilizers) before planting and then he plants corn with liquid starter fertilizer in a 2x2 placement. He comes back with a side dressing operation with UAN28 somewhere before the corn is knee high.

In addition, he will be utilizing pre-side dressing nitrogen test (PSNT) this year, and he is also considering foliar application of micronutrients later in the growing season based on the tissue test.

"Micros are an important part of my fertilizer program as well," he said.

Retail fertilizer prices have stabilized in recent weeks, but still remain lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers are now double-digits lower.

UAN32 is 13% lower, 10-34-0 is 14% less expensive and both urea and MAP are 16% less expensive from a year previous. In addition, DAP, anhydrous and UAN28 are all 17% less expensive while potash is 26% lower.

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 November 2008 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
May 4-8 2015	570	598	491	457
June 1-5 2015	570	598	491	461
June 29-July 3 2015	570	596	490	469
July 27-31 2015	569	594	487	469
Aug 24-28 2015	567	586	476	447
Sept 21-25 2015	562	575	454	428
Oct 19-23 2015	547	562	435	413
Nov 16-20 2015	545	559	424	403
Dec 14-18 2015	532	544	410	392
Jan 11-15 2016	495	521	391	381
Feb 8-12 2016	479	499	378	369
Mar 7-11 2016	477	494	372	378
Apr 4-8 2016	480	504	369	387
May 2-6 2016	475	502	366	385
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
May 4-8 2015	653	711	331	371
June 1-5 2015	650	710	331	371
June 29-July 3 2015	642	705	330	369
July 27-31 2015	636	689	324	354
Aug 24-28 2015	609	667	309	350
Sept 21-25 2015	589	646	297	343
Oct 19-23 2015	582	637	291	334
Nov 16-20 2015	579	629	287	332
Dec 14-18 2015	571	612	279	331
Jan 11-15 2016	572	581	272	319
Feb 8-12 2016	569	551	261	303
Mar 7-11 2016	562	541	262	312
Apr 4-8 2016	561	586	272	315
May 2-6 2016	560	589	274	321

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

(MZT/BAS/AG)

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