DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continued to hold fairly steady the first week of May 2017, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. While more fertilizer prices were lower this week compared to the previous week, the moves were fairly minor.

Of the eight major fertilizer, six were slightly lower in price compared to a month earlier. These were DAP, MAP, urea, 10-34-0, UAN28 and UAN32.

DAP had an average price of $436 per ton, MAP $466/ton, urea $351/ton, 10-34-0 $436/ton, UAN28 $247/ton and UAN32 $280/ton.

The remaining two fertilizers were slightly higher in price from last month. Potash had an average price of $339 per ton and anhydrous $508/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.38/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

Spring planting has moved along somewhat smoothly in many areas of the Northern Plains. Mark Rohrich, who operates Maverick Ag, a full-service agronomy center, and also farms near Ashley, North Dakota, said most of the spring wheat is seeded, about half of the corn is planted and other crops like sunflowers are still be planted.

Most of the corn fertilizer has already been applied, as most farmers in his south-central North Dakota region put down fertilizer before planting in the form of urea. Very little side-dressing happens in the area, he said.

"I know many guys here have been waiting on rain for fertilizer applied broadcast in no-till over the last few weeks and we have gotten none," Rohrich told DTN.

As for where retail fertilizer prices could be headed, Rohrich expects a fairly steady market in the coming months. Retail fertilizer prices will most likely follow whatever level commodity prices are at, he said.

"I don't see big jumps up [in fertilizer prices] in these kinds of grain markets, and most farmers already have their belts pretty tight," he said.

Retail fertilizer prices are lower compared to a year earlier. Half of the eight major fertilizers are still double-digits lower.

10-34-0 is 22% lower than a year ago, anhydrous is 14% less expensive, UAN32 is 13% lower and UAN28 is 10% less expensive. Urea is 9% lower, DAP is 8% less expensive and both potash and MAP are 7% lower compared to year earlier.

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
May 2-6 2016	475	502	366	385
May 30-June 3 2016	473	499	363	375
June 27-July 1 2016	468	495	358	365
July 25-29 2016	459	492	356	356
Aug 22-26 2016	451	468	330	330
Sept 19-23 2016	443	453	319	323
Oct 17-21 2016	436	452	313	317
Nov 14-18 2016	436	445	315	327
Dec 12-16 2016	433	443	320	333
Jan 9-13 2017	432	441	320	338
Feb 6-10 2017	431	448	330	354
Mar 03-10 2017	436	460	336	361
Apr 3-7 2017	438	466	338	354
May 1-5 2017	436	466	339	351
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
May 2-6 2016	560	589	274	321
May 30-June 3 2016	559	579	268	313
June 27-July 1 2016	554	566	266	304
July 25-29 2016	543	545	257	304
Aug 22-26 2016	502	515	234	280
Sept 19-23 2016	470	494	225	271
Oct 17-21 2016	453	475	224	265
Nov 14-18 2016	445	466	219	256
Dec 12-16 2016	444	463	219	257
Jan 9-13 2017	437	467	222	258
Feb 6-10 2017	440	485	238	273
Mar 03-10 2017	441	503	246	279
Apr 3-7 2017	441	505	248	280
May 1-5 2017	436	508	247	280

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

Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(AG/CZ)

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