By Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter
OMAHA (DTN) -- Fertilizer prices continue to push slightly higher, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the third week of July 2018.
Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month, but none were up a significant amount. DAP had an average price of $486/ton, MAP $505/ton, urea $366/ton, 10-34-0 $442/ton, anhydrous $503/ton, UAN28 $243/ton and UAN32 $279/ton.
Potash was unchanged from the previous month with an average price of $354/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.40/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.
Fertilizer retailers are starting to release prices for fall application, and some farmers report these prices are coming in higher than they were last spring.
One Minnesota farmer told DTN his local fertilizer retailers have set prices significantly higher than last year, and many are on the fence about whether they will book any fertilizer for fall, a decision they usually make midsummer. One of his concerns is cash flow, but at the same time, he's worried a rally in the corn market could push prices even higher by spring.
"I'm in an area where I can and do usually put down most of my fertilizer in the fall," he said. "This might be the first time I don't do any."
All eight of the major fertilizers are higher compared to last year. 10-34-0 is 4% higher, both potash and UAN32 are 5% more expensive, UAN28 is 6% higher, MAP is 9% more expensive, DAP is 12% higher, anhydrous is 18% higher and urea is 19% more expensive compared to last year.
DTN collects roughly 1,700 retail fertilizer bids from 310 retailer locations weekly. Not all fertilizer prices change each week. Prices are subject to change at any time.
DTN Pro Grains subscribers can find current retail fertilizer price in the DTN Fertilizer Index on the Fertilizer page under Farm Business.
Retail fertilizer charts dating back to 2010 are available in the DTN fertilizer segment. The charts included cost of N/lb., DAP, MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.
DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):
| DRY |
| Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
| Jul 17-21 2017 | 435 | 464 | 339 | 309 |
| Aug 14-18 2017 | 434 | 460 | 338 | 305 |
| Sep 11-15 2017 | 431 | 456 | 336 | 310 |
| Oct 9-13 2017 | 432 | 453 | 347 | 325 |
| Nov 6-10 2017 | 434 | 459 | 341 | 338 |
| Dec 4-8 2017 | 438 | 471 | 343 | 344 |
| Jan 1-5 2018 | 452 | 490 | 345 | 350 |
| Jan 29-Feb 2 2018 | 458 | 492 | 344 | 355 |
| Feb 26-Mar 2 2018 | 461 | 497 | 346 | 361 |
| Mar 26-30 2018 | 470 | 506 | 350 | 370 |
| Apr 23-27 2018 | 485 | 504 | 353 | 367 |
| May 21-25 2018 | 483 | 504 | 354 | 364 |
| Jun 18-22 2018 | 485 | 505 | 354 | 364 |
| Jul 16-20 2018 | 486 | 505 | 354 | 366 |
| Liquid |
| Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
| Jul 10-14 2017 | 431 | 451 | 235 | 268 |
| Aug 14-18 2017 | 419 | 419 | 216 | 251 |
| Sep 11-15 2017 | 416 | 412 | 210 | 248 |
| Oct 9-13 2017 | 413 | 397 | 206 | 253 |
| Nov 6-10 2017 | 403 | 409 | 216 | 272 |
| Dec 4-8 2017 | 404 | 424 | 215 | 251 |
| Jan 1-5 2018 | 409 | 474 | 219 | 256 |
| Jan 29-Feb 2 2018 | 415 | 491 | 227 | 261 |
| Feb 26-Mar 2 2018 | 416 | 496 | 233 | 279 |
| Mar 26-30 2018 | 425 | 507 | 237 | 272 |
| Apr 23-27 2018 | 431 | 507 | 241 | 277 |
| May 21-25 2018 | 439 | 504 | 241 | 276 |
| Jun 18-22 2018 | 440 | 503 | 242 | 277 |
| Jul 16-20 2018 | 442 | 503 | 243 | 279 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
(KD/CZ)
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