DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends
Anhydrous Leads Fertilizer Prices Higher Again
OMAHA (DTN) -- With one exception, retail fertilizer prices continued their trend of moving higher the second week of November 2018, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.
One fertilizer -- anhydrous -- was significantly higher -- 5% higher compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $519 per ton.
However, none of the remaining six fertilizers that were higher were up significantly. DAP had an average price of $500/ton, MAP $530/ton, potash $368/ton, urea $407/ton, UAN28 $245/ton, and UAN32 $287/ton.
One fertilizer was slightly lower compared to a month prior. 10-34-0 was just slightly lower with an average price of $457/ton. This marks the first week in which there has been a lower fertilizer price since the first week of September 2018, a period of 10 weeks.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.44/lb.N, anhydrous $0.32/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N, and UAN32 $0.45/lb.N.
Among the speakers at the 2018 Fertilizer Outlook and Technology Conference held in Jacksonville, Florida, last week was David Myerholtz, a corn and soybean farmer from Gibsonburg, Ohio. Located about 30 miles from Toledo, he farms in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB), an area that attracted attention in 2014 when the city's water supply was shut down over high levels of toxic green algae in the lake.
The algae is a product of pollutants from both non-ag and ag sources in the lake. Research has shown that phosphorus fertilizer runs off farm fields in the basin into the Maumee River, which feeds into the lake.
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Myerholtz has worked hard on his farm to assure he is applying fertilizer both correctly and efficiently. He is utilizing several different practices, including using the 4Rs (the right source, at the right rate, at the right time, with the right placement), subsurface-applied phosphorus, cover crops, soil and tissue sampling, and precision agriculture technologies.
During his presentation, he held up a three-ring binder roughly 3 inches thick that contained his nutrient management plan, which he devised all on his own. Farmers can find examples of these plans online if they didn't want to go on their own, Myerholtz said.
"I like data, and we are trying to evolve," Myerholtz said. "I try to use data to make all of this more practical."
Myerholtz farms with his father, Lowell. The pair were recognized as 4R Advocates in 2016 by The Fertilizer Institute. The Myerholtzes, along with their fertilizer retailer, John Fritz of the Andersons of Fremont, Ohio, were given the award.
Myerholtz works closely with his fertilizer retailer and a crop consultant to assure he is applying fertilizer as efficiently as possible and also attempting to limit the effects on the environment. He has seen improvement to his nutrient plan over the years and hopes this continues in the future, he said.
All eight of the major fertilizers now are higher compared to last year with prices shifting up in recent months. UAN32 is 6% higher, potash is 8% more expensive, both 10-34-0 and UAN28 are 13% higher, both DAP and MAP are 15% more expensive, urea is 20% higher and anhydrous is now 27% more expensive 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 |
Nov 13-17 2017 | 435 | 459 | 342 | 339 |
Dec 11-15 2017 | 439 | 479 | 343 | 340 |
Jan 8-12 2018 | 456 | 491 | 346 | 352 |
Feb 5-9 2018 | 458 | 493 | 344 | 355 |
Mar 5-9 2018 | 463 | 503 | 349 | 367 |
Apr 2-6 2018 | 478 | 508 | 352 | 370 |
Apr 30-May 4 2018 | 485 | 505 | 353 | 368 |
May 28-June 1 2018 | 483 | 504 | 354 | 364 |
Jun 25-29 2018 | 485 | 505 | 354 | 364 |
Jul 23-27 2018 | 486 | 504 | 356 | 366 |
Aug 20-24 2018 | 487 | 514 | 356 | 364 |
Sep 17-21 2018 | 494 | 520 | 362 | 384 |
Oct 15-19 2018 | 498 | 518 | 365 | 405 |
Nov 12-16 2018 | 500 | 530 | 368 | 407 |
LIQUID | ||||
Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
Nov 13-17 2017 | 403 | 410 | 216 | 272 |
Dec 11-15 2017 | 403 | 434 | 218 | 256 |
Jan 8-12 2018 | 410 | 479 | 220 | 258 |
Feb 5-9 2018 | 415 | 492 | 227 | 261 |
Mar 5-9 2018 | 422 | 499 | 234 | 272 |
Apr 2-6 2018 | 425 | 508 | 239 | 274 |
Apr 30-May 4 2018 | 431 | 510 | 241 | 277 |
May 28-June 1 2018 | 439 | 504 | 241 | 276 |
Jun 25-29 2018 | 440 | 504 | 242 | 277 |
Jul 23-27 2018 | 442 | 501 | 243 | 279 |
Aug 20-24 2018 | 446 | 481 | 233 | 271 |
Sep 17-21 2018 | 448 | 494 | 239 | 278 |
Oct 15-19 2018 | 457 | 494 | 243 | 283 |
Nov 12-16 2018 | 457 | 519 | 245 | 287 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
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