DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

UAN28 Price Moves Lower, Other Fertilizer Prices Mixed

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The average retail price of UAN28 was down 10% from last month with an average price of $217 per ton the last week of November 2016. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail prices for the majority of fertilizers moved lower the last week of November 2016. However, prices for a couple of fertilizers were slightly higher compared to the previous month, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

As has been the case for the last few weeks, prices of six of the eight major fertilizers were lower compared to a month earlier, with only one having a significant change. UAN28 was down 10% from last month with an average price of $217 per ton.

Other fertilizers with lower prices include DAP, which had an average price of $435/ton, MAP $445/ton, 10-34-0 $447/ton, anhydrous $465/ton and UAN32 $256/ton.

The remaining two fertilizers were slightly higher in price compared to a month prior. Neither fertilizer was up by any substantial amount, which has been the trend in recent weeks. Potash had an average price of $318/ton and urea was at $331/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.36/lb.N, anhydrous $0.28/lb.N, UAN28 $0.39/lb.N and UAN32 $0.40/lb.N.

In an article from Iowa State University Extension titled "High Yields, Low Grain Prices: Manage Phosphorus and Potassium Wisely," author Antonio Mallarino, ISU professor of soil fertilizer and nutrient management, wrote that with the high-yielding grains harvested this fall, both phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) levels need to be replenished. However, this also needs to be balanced by economics, he wrote.

Mallarino recommends farmers use soil sampling and testing to make rational decisions. Farmers can see large economic benefits when applying P and K to soils with very low and low levels, but the response sharply decreases as soil test values increase in the optimum and high-testing categories.

"Very large and likely economic benefits from fertilization of corn and soybean in soils testing very low, but benefits bounce around breakeven in the optimum category due to small or no yield increases and become mostly negative in high-testing soils," Mallarino wrote. "Therefore, producers should not reduce P and K application in soils testing very low, may slightly reduce the rate in soils testing low and optimum, and only a starter rate might be justified in high-testing soils."

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Mallarino also recommended farmers watch yield levels and P and K removal to maintain optimum levels of P and K in the soil. There can often be high response variations within the optimum category alone, he wrote.

A removal-based rate will maximize yield, but often the small yield increase does not offset application costs, especially with current low commodity prices. Therefore, if the producer's economic condition is not good and/or there is uncertainty about farming the land in the future, a fraction of the estimated removal-based rate or only starter could be applied when prices are low, according to Mallarino.

This may help profits in the short term, but higher P and K application rates will be needed in the future, he wrote.

"The decline in soil-test values is much slower than many believe, and producers having high-testing fields or field areas could save money by withholding or reducing application rates until levels decrease to the optimum category," he wrote. "They should be aware that there is a good long-term relationship between P and K removal with harvest and soil-test values."

To read the entire article visit: http://bit.ly/…

Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers are now double digits lower.

Urea is now down 17%, both DAP and MAP are 20% less expensive and both 10-34-0 and UAN32 are 23% lower. UAN28 is 24% less expensive, potash is 25% lower and anhydrous is 26% less expensive compared to a year prior.

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.

DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Nov 30-Dec 4 2015 541 559 421 400
Dec 28-Jan 1 2016 494 531 398 383
Jan 25-29 2016 495 515 391 380
Feb 22-26 2016 477 492 373 371
Mar 21-25 2016 475 501 371 390
Apr 18-22 2016 477 502 366 388
May 16-20 2016 476 501 365 384
June 13-17 2016 469 496 359 367
July 11-15 2016 467 496 358 360
Aug 8-12 2016 453 482 344 345
Sept 5-9 2016 446 464 325 325
Oct 3-7 2016 438 451 312 315
Oct 31-Nov 4 2016 436 451 314 319
Nov 28-Dec 2 2016 435 445 318 331
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Nov 30-Dec 4 2015 578 627 286 332
Dec 28-Jan 1 2016 570 590 273 317
Jan 25-29 2016 571 569 271 317
Feb 22-26 2016 566 536 260 309
Mar 21-25 2016 561 569 276 312
Apr 18-22 2016 561 588 274 322
May 16-20 2016 558 588 274 321
June 13-17 2016 555 566 266 305
July 11-15 2016 538 547 266 306
Aug 8-12 2016 528 522 249 299
Sept 5-9 2016 478 502 228 274
Oct 3-7 2016 454 472 224 263
Oct 31-Nov 4 2016 452 471 244 262
Nov 28-Dec 2 2016 447 465 217 256

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

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Russ Quinn