News & Resources

DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

16 May 2019
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)