DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN remained mostly lower the first week of August 2020 compared to last month. Once again, most of the moves in price were fairly minor.

One fertilizer that did have a significant price move (which DTN designates at 5% or more) was UAN28. The price of the liquid nitrogen fertilizer decreased 5% from a month ago. UAN28 had an average retail price of $222 per ton the first week of August.

Prices for five other fertilizers were lower compared to last month, but none were down a notable amount. Potash had an average price of $357 per ton, urea $354/ton, 10-34-0 $465/ton, anhydrous $455/ton and UAN32 $262/ton.

Two fertilizers were slightly higher in price compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $416/ton and MAP $430/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.28/lb.N, UAN28 $0.40/lb.N and UAN32 $0.41/lb.N.

A new fertilizer application rule in Minnesota is set to go into effect this fall. In 2019, the Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner signed the Groundwater Protection Rule (GPR) with the goal of minimizing potential sources of nitrate pollution to the state's groundwater, according to a recent post in the University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News blog.

"One impact of this rule for farmers and agronomists is a restriction on the application of nitrogen fertilizer in the fall and on frozen soils in certain areas of the state starting Sept. 1, 2020," the blog reported.

These areas are mostly in north-central, southeast and southwest parts of the state but also includes smaller locations across the state. The northern third of Minnesota is excluded from the restrictions on fall nitrogen applications, the blog said.

However, not all nitrogen fertilizers applied in the fall are banned from these areas. There are specific exceptions that allow fall application of nitrogen to establish winter grains or perennial crops and when applying DAP, MAP or micronutrient formulations, up to a field average of 40 lbs./acre in the fall.

In addition, the rate of 40 lbs./acre does not apply to fields with "low" or "very low" soil test phosphorus values. All of the exceptions can be found on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website.

To read the entire University of Minnesota Extension post, click on the following link: https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/….

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be considerably lower in price from a year ago. Anhydrous is 22% lower, both MAP and UAN28 are 19% less expensive, UAN32 is 18% lower, urea is 17% less expensive, DAP is 16% lower, potash is 10% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 5% lower from last year at this time.

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
Aug 5-9 2019	495	531	395	428
Sep 2-6 2019	491	488	387	408
Sep 30-Oct 4, 2019	476	474	384	404
Oct 28-Nov 1 2019	464	472	383	402
Nov 25-29 2019	456	465	381	386
Dec 23-27 2019	443	454	377	378
Jan 20-24 2020	413	435	374	357
Feb 17-21 2020	410	435	373	361
Mar 16-20 2020	408	433	370	382
Apr 13-17 2020	410	433	370	384
May 11-15 2020	413	433	370	388
Jun 8-12 2020	406	430	363	367
Jul 6-10 2020	405	427	360	360
Aug 3-7 2020	416	430	357	354
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Aug 5-9 2019	491	580	272	320
Sep 2-6 2019	473	522	255	290
Sep 30-Oct 4, 2019	470	511	253	289
Oct 28-Nov 1 2019	468	503	251	291
Nov 25-29 2019	472	497	245	277
Dec 23-27 2019	469	488	240	276
Jan 20-24 2020	470	487	237	275
Feb 17-21 2020	464	490	235	277
Mar 16-20 2020	466	491	235	278
Apr 13-17 2020	468	492	236	279
May 11-15 2020	468	492	237	280
Jun 8-12 2020	468	472	235	276
Jul 6-10 2020	467	461	233	272
Aug 3-7 2020	465	455	222	262

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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