By Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter
OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first week of May 2019 continue to be varied. Half of the eight major fertilizers were lower in price compared to last month while the other half were slightly higher.
The move lower has been fairly small, which has been the case in recent weeks. DAP had an average price of $501/ton, down $4; MAP $527/ton, down $5; UAN28 $267/ton, down $4; and UAN32 $310/ton, down $7.
The remaining four fertilizers were higher compared to the prior month, but the move to the high side was fairly trivial. Potash had an average price of $391/ton, up $4; urea $418/ton, up $14; 10-34-0 $487/ton, up $6; and anhydrous $595/ton, up $3.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.45/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.48/lb.N and UAN32 $0.48/lb.N.
Much of the Midwest has faced a spring of uncooperative weather, which has delayed fieldwork and narrowed the window for fertilizer application. In addition, the Northern Plains are dealing with supply complications from flooding on river systems since many are at the end of the supply line.
To combat these problems, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed Emergency Executive Order 19-32 on Friday. This grants a temporary exemption from the hours of service requirement in Minnesota state law for drivers of commercial vehicles delivering anhydrous ammonia and other fertilizers, according to a press release from the governor's office.
The extreme cold and significant snowfall this winter led to flooding and a wet spring, which in turn delayed and shortened the spring fieldwork season. This caused farmers from multiple states to begin fieldwork at the same time and increased the demand for fertilizer across the region.
"Waiving the hours of service requirements ensures that carriers and drivers can deliver anhydrous ammonia and other fertilizer products to the farmers of Minnesota that need these products to ensure a successful planting season," the press release stated.
The executive order went into effect on Friday, May 10, and remains in effect for 30 days or until direct assistance ends, whichever one occurs first. The entire press release can be viewed at https://mn.gov/….
All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices shifting higher. Both MAP and DAP are now 4% higher, both potash and UAN28 are 11% more expensive, UAN32 is 12% higher, 10-34-0 is 13% more expensive, urea is 14% higher and anhydrous is 17% 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 |
| 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 |
| Mar 11-15 2019 | 510 | 534 | 386 | 402 |
| Apr 8-12 2019 | 505 | 532 | 387 | 404 |
| May 6-10 2019 | 501 | 527 | 391 | 418 |
| Liquid |
| Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
| 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 |
| Mar 11-15 2019 | 469 | 596 | 269 | 318 |
| Apr 8-12 2019 | 481 | 592 | 271 | 317 |
| May 6-10 2019 | 487 | 595 | 267 | 310 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
(KD/CZ)
© Copyright 2019 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.