DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Most Retail Fertilizer Prices Continue to Move Higher

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The average retail price of urea was $405 per ton the second week of February 2019, down slightly from $407 per ton a month ago. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail fertilizer prices continued to be mostly higher the second week of February 2019, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. But with only six of the eight major fertilizers moving higher, this breaks a string of four consecutive weeks where all fertilizers were higher.

None of the six fertilizers' prices were up by a significant amount from last month. MAP had an average price of $537 per ton, potash $385/ton, 10-34-0 $470/ton, anhydrous $596/ton, UAN28 $271/ton and UAN32 $318/ton.

The remaining two fertilizers were slightly lower in price compared to the previous month. DAP had an average price of $512 per ton and urea $405 per ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.44/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.48/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

One often-overlooked nutrient is sulfur. Newer research shows season-long availability of the nutrient is vital for most crops. You can learn more about the importance of sulfur to crop health by reading the article "Sulfur Fertilizers: One Vital Nutrient" at: https://www.dtnpf.com/…

DTN is not alone in writing about this nutrient. The University of Minnesota (UM) Extension has written about sulfur and crops twice in February so far in the Minnesota Crop News segment.

In a post titled "What source of sulfur is right for you?" from Feb. 1, UM nutrient management Extension specialist Dan Kaiser wrote that selecting the right source of sulfur is critical.

"Rapid uptake of sulfur occurs in corn from V5 to early silking when 50% of sulfur needed by corn is taken up," Kaiser wrote. "Roughly 10% of sulfur needed by corn is taken up prior to V5, but this timeframe is still critical and deficiencies early in the growing season can limit yield -- particularly in cool and wet springs."

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Read the UM Extension blog here:

https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/…

Then, on Feb. 15, in a Minnesota Crop News segment, Kaiser wrote another post titled "Can fall sulfur application work for you?"

Read the post here:

https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/…

While the sulfate form of sulfur is mobile in the soil, there are a few things to consider when deciding which source of sulfur to choose and when to apply.

Kaiser wrote that if the soil has a sandy texture or is silt loam, farmers should delay sulfur application to the spring. If applying a sulfate form in the fall, then it should be applied near the upper end of the suggested range in case there is some movement of sulfate near the roots in the growing season.

"Due to the leaching potential of sulfate, some growers and retailers prefer to apply elemental sulfur with fall applications," he wrote. "While elemental sulfur presents a low risk of loss, it is not a readily available form of sulfur which crops can use."

All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices shifting higher. MAP is 8% more expensive, both DAP and potash are 12% higher, both urea and 10-34-0 is 13% more expensive, UAN28 is 18% higher and both anhydrous and UAN32 is now 21% 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
Feb 12-16 2018 457 495 345 357
Mar 12-16 2018 466 503 350 368
Apr 9-13 2018 482 504 353 369
May 7-11 2018 483 505 354 366
Jun 4-8 2018 484 505 354 364
Jul 2-6 2018 485 504 354 366
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018 488 505 355 366
Aug 27-31 2018 487 513 357 365
Sep 24-28 2018 494 520 361 385
Oct 22-26 2018 499 518 366 406
Nov 19-23 2018 501 530 368 407
Dec 17-21 2018 508 532 377 407
Jan 14-18 2019 512 534 383 407
Feb 11-15 2019 512 537 385 405
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Feb 12-16 2018 415 492 230 264
Mar 12-16 2018 421 503 237 282
Apr 9-13 2018 427 510 241 275
May 7-11 2018 431 512 241 276
Jun 4-8 2018 440 503 241 276
Jul 2-6 2018 443 505 242 279
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018 443 498 242 279
Aug 27-31 2018 446 480 233 271
Sep 24-28 2018 449 493 236 278
Oct 22-26 2018 457 499 243 284
Nov 19-23 2018 457 520 246 287
Dec 17-21 2018 457 565 265 304
Jan 14-18 2019 462 580 270 305
Feb 11-15 2019 470 596 271 318

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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Russ Quinn