By Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter
OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail fertilizer prices continued to see little movement the first week of June 2017, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.
Of the eight major fertilizers, half were slightly higher in price compared to a month prior. These were DAP, MAP, potash and UAN28. DAP had an average price of $438 per ton, MAP $469/ton, potash $339/ton and UAN28 $246/ton.
The remaining four fertilizers were slightly lower in price from last month. Urea had an average price of $338/ton, 10-34-0 $435/ton, anhydrous $503/ton and UAN32 $278/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.37/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.
In the last two columns, we took a closer look at nitrogen sidedressing to corn, a practice happening right now across the Corn Belt. Farmers have different thoughts on the increasingly popular practice to get nitrogen applied when young corn plants need the nutrients the most.
Don Batie, who farms near Lexington, Nebraska, said he hopes to be done sidedressing by midweek this week on his gravity-irrigated corn. A practice his father did 50 years ago with anhydrous on their central Nebraska farm, he now does with liquid nitrogen and has for about 20 years.
"Corn nitrogen needs peak in late June and July," Batie said. "I like to apply as close as possible to need."
Batie will start side dressing when the corn is at the third leaf stage. He will also have to cultivate once or twice as well, he said.
In addition to sidedressing, Batie will also apply nitrogen for corn through his center pivot irrigation systems. His strategy for applying through the pivot is to apply two or three shots during the growing season, depending on how much is needed.
"This year, I plan on one application next week and one the first week of July unless it's raining," he said. "I'll only put on 0.50 inch of water in the first shot because the subsoil isn't dry, just the top."
Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. Half of the eight major fertilizers are still double-digits lower.
10-34-0 is 22% lower from a year ago, anhydrous is 13% less expensive, UAN32 is 11% lower and urea is down 10%. DAP is 8% less expensive, UAN28 is 7% lower and both MAP and potash are 6% less expensive.
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 |
| June 6-10 2016 | 470 | 498 | 359 | 370 |
| July 4-8 2016 | 469 | 496 | 359 | 361 |
| Aug 1-5 2016 | 459 | 488 | 346 | 349 |
| Aug 29-Sept 2 2016 | 449 | 464 | 327 | 326 |
| Sept 26-30 2016 | 440 | 458 | 317 | 322 |
| Oct 24-28 2016 | 436 | 451 | 313 | 317 |
| Nov 21-25 2016 | 436 | 445 | 316 | 328 |
| Dec 19-23 2016 | 432 | 437 | 321 | 336 |
| Jan 16-20 2017 | 430 | 443 | 324 | 346 |
| Feb 13-17 2017 | 432 | 450 | 332 | 357 |
| Mar 13-17 2017 | 443 | 462 | 337 | 360 |
| Apr 10-13 2017 | 437 | 466 | 338 | 353 |
| May 8-12 2017 | 437 | 466 | 340 | 351 |
| Jun 5-9 2017 | 438 | 469 | 339 | 338 |
| LIQUID |
| Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
| June 6-10 2016 | 556 | 569 | 267 | 310 |
| July 4-8 2016 | 546 | 554 | 261 | 304 |
| Aug 1-5 2016 | 548 | 552 | 254 | 307 |
| Aug 29-Sept 2 2016 | 493 | 509 | 233 | 275 |
| Sept 26-30 2016 | 465 | 486 | 223 | 271 |
| Oct 24-28 2016 | 452 | 472 | 224 | 262 |
| Nov 21-25 2016 | 445 | 465 | 218 | 256 |
| Dec 19-23 2016 | 442 | 468 | 217 | 255 |
| Jan 16-20 2017 | 437 | 478 | 235 | 267 |
| Feb 13-17 2017 | 440 | 491 | 240 | 276 |
| Mar 13-17 2017 | 441 | 507 | 247 | 280 |
| Apr 10-13 2017 | 441 | 505 | 247 | 280 |
| May 8-12 2017 | 437 | 508 | 247 | 280 |
| Jun 5-9 2017 | 435 | 503 | 246 | 278 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
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