DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

By Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter

OMAHA (DTN) -- As has been the case in the last few weeks, retail fertilizer prices continue be mixed the fourth week of November, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

Six of the eight major fertilizers slipped lower compared to a month earlier, and again none of these moves were significant. DAP averaged $436 per ton, MAP $445/ton, 10-34-0 $445/ton, anhydrous $465/ton, UAN28 $218/ton and UAN32 $256/ton.

The remaining two fertilizers were slightly higher in price looking back to a month earlier. Neither fertilizer was up any substantial amount. Potash averaged $316/ton and urea was at $328/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.

With harvest either wrapping up or already completed in most areas of the Corn Belt, farmers are turning their attention to other tasks. This includes applying some fertilizer for the 2017 crop before Mother Nature slams the door on fieldwork this year.

One farmer who is busy applying fertilizer currently is Mike Carlson, who farms near Red Oak, Iowa. The southwestern Iowa farmer is in the process of applying anhydrous to his fields, and he hopes to cover about half of his acres in the fall.

"The ground was extremely hard before the (recent) rains," Carlson told DTN. "I hope to run more this week."

Carlson said he pre-paid for about half of his anhydrous needs for the fall. As it turns out, anhydrous prices fell even lower during the time between when he locked it in to now, but only about another $10 per ton, he said.

The warm weather the Western Corn Belt experienced this fall limited anhydrous applications as the soil is slowly cooling down. Carlson said he hasn't applied any phosphorus or potash yet, but that is still to be applied by a custom applicator.

"Just waiting for them to do it," he said. "Some guys have put on a lot already while others have just started."

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 UAN32 is 21% lower. 10-34-0 is 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):

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(MZT/AG)

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