DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail prices for most fertilizers continued to decline in the third week of September 2023 with one big exception: The price of anhydrous was up significantly, according to sellers surveyed by DTN.

At $763 per ton, the average retail price of anhydrous was 21% higher than last month. The price of the nitrogen fertilizer stayed under $700 per ton for only eight weeks, according to DTN data.

Prices for the remaining seven fertilizers were all lower compared to last month.

Three fertilizers saw a significant price drop, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. 10-34-0 was 14% lower compared to last month with an average price of $610 per ton. Potash was 10% less expensive than last month with an average price of $501/ton. And DAP was 6% lower with an average price of $702/ton.

Prices for the remaining four fertilizers were just slightly lower compared to last month. MAP had an average price of $757/ton, urea $566/ton, UAN28 $352/ton and UAN32 $405/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.62/lb.N, anhydrous $0.47/lb.N, UAN28 $0.63/lb.N and UAN32 $0.63/lb.N.

While it is too early to apply anhydrous, there are things producers should remember when applying the nitrogen fertilizer later this fall, according to a recent post from Iowa State University (ISU) Extension (https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/…).

DO:

-- ISU recommends waiting to apply anhydrous after harvest if the soil is dry until you get some rain that moistens the soil down to 5 to 6 inches to avoid ammonia volatilization losses. Also, wait until the soil temperature averages 50 degrees Fahrenheit and continues to trend lower.

"This will delay conversion of the ammonium to nitrate and reduce leaching losses with high rainfall in the fall or early spring," the report said.

-- If soil moisture conditions are questionable, make a pass around the field. If you smell ammonia, adjust the equipment or wait until conditions are more suitable.

-- Properly maintain and adjust equipment to ensure uniform application.

DON'T:

-- If application causes cloddiness, or large air pockets or lack of covering the knife track during application, stop application and wait for better conditions.

-- Application under wet conditions can cause the knife track to smear, and some ammonia will volatilize. Avoid application under too dry or too wet conditions.

-- Don't make a shallow application with the idea that any rain will prevent volatilization. Keep the application depth at your normal placement depth.

All fertilizers are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago: MAP by 25%, DAP by 26%, 10-34-0 by 29%, urea by 30%, UAN28 by 39%, UAN32 by 40%, potash by 43% and anhydrous by 45%.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.

In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/….

A new process of producing urea by using electrified synthesis could denitrify wastewater while also enabling low carbon-intensity fertilizer, according to an article from www.Phys.org. You can read about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

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

Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @RussQuinnDTN

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