By Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter
OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices were still mostly higher the third week of March 2017, but this climb higher appears to be slowing, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN. And, for the first time in five weeks, not all of the fertilizers had higher prices.
Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to a month earlier. While all fertilizers but one were higher once again, none of the eight were up by any noteworthy amount. This is the fourth-consecutive week prices were relatively flat.
DAP had an average price of $438/ton, MAP $464/ton, potash $338/ton and urea $356/ton. 10-34-0 had an average price of $441/ton, anhydrous $507/ton, UAN28 $248/ton and UAN32 $280/ton.
Urea was the one fertilizer that saw its price drop. The nitrogen fertilizer was just slightly lower in price compared to one month ago, this time at $356/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.
Retail fertilizers are lower compared to one year earlier. Half of the eight major fertilizer are double digits lower.
10-34-0 is 21% lower from a year ago, both anhydrous and UAN32 are 11% less expensive and UAN28 is 10% less expensive. Both potash and urea are 9% less expensive, DAP is 8% lower and MAP is 7% lower compared to one year earlier.
DTN collects roughly 1,700 retail fertilizer bids from 310 retailer locations weekly. Not all fertilizer prices change each week. Prices are subject to change at any time.
DTN Pro Grains subscribers can find current retail fertilizer price in the DTN Fertilizer Index on the Fertilizer page under Farm Business.
Retail fertilizer charts dating back to 2010 are available in the DTN fertilizer segment. The charts included cost of N/lb., DAP, MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.
DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):
| DRY |
| Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
| Mar 21-25 2016 | 475 | 501 | 371 | 390 |
| Apr 18-22 2016 | 477 | 502 | 366 | 388 |
| May 16-20 2016 | 476 | 501 | 365 | 384 |
| June 13-17 2016 | 469 | 496 | 359 | 367 |
| July 11-15 2016 | 467 | 496 | 358 | 360 |
| Aug 8-12 2016 | 453 | 482 | 344 | 345 |
| Sept 5-9 2016 | 446 | 464 | 325 | 325 |
| Oct 3-7 2016 | 438 | 451 | 312 | 315 |
| Oct 31-Nov 4 2016 | 436 | 451 | 314 | 319 |
| Nov 28-Dec 2 2016 | 435 | 445 | 318 | 331 |
| Dec 26-30 2016 | 431 | 443 | 321 | 336 |
| Jan 23-27 2017 | 429 | 443 | 322 | 347 |
| Feb 20-24 2017 | 433 | 452 | 332 | 359 |
| Mar 20-24 2017 | 438 | 464 | 338 | 356 |
| LIQUID |
| Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
| Mar 21-25 2016 | 561 | 569 | 276 | 312 |
| Apr 18-22 2016 | 561 | 588 | 274 | 322 |
| May 16-20 2016 | 558 | 588 | 274 | 321 |
| June 13-17 2016 | 555 | 566 | 266 | 305 |
| July 11-15 2016 | 538 | 547 | 266 | 306 |
| Aug 8-12 2016 | 528 | 522 | 249 | 299 |
| Sept 5-9 2016 | 478 | 502 | 228 | 274 |
| Oct 3-7 2016 | 454 | 472 | 224 | 263 |
| Oct 31-Nov 4 2016 | 452 | 471 | 244 | 262 |
| Nov 28-Dec 2 2016 | 447 | 465 | 217 | 256 |
| Dec 26-30 2016 | 437 | 466 | 217 | 254 |
| Jan 23-27 2017 | 436 | 480 | 235 | 268 |
| Feb 20-24 2017 | 440 | 490 | 241 | 276 |
| Mar 20-24 2017 | 441 | 507 | 248 | 280 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
(TN/SK)
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