News & Resources

DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

3 May 2023

OMAHA (DTN) -- Most average retail fertilizer prices continued to be down from the previous month in the fourth week of April 2023, according to sellers surveyed by DTN.

Prices for seven of the eight major fertilizers were lower compared to last month. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

After a week off, anhydrous returned to lead fertilizer prices lower. The nitrogen fertilizer was 10% lower compared to last month and had an average price of $928 per ton.

Urea was 5% less expensive compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $595/ton. This was the first time since the third week of September 2021 that the price of urea was below the $600-per-ton level. That week, the average urea price was $585/ton.

Six other fertilizers were just slightly lower compared to last month. MAP had an average price of $804/ton, potash $624/ton, 10-34-0 $740/ton, UAN28 $426/ton and UAN32 $508/ton.

One fertilizer, meanwhile, was slightly higher compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $827/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.65/lb.N, anhydrous $0.57/lb.N, UAN28 $0.76/lb.N and UAN32 $0.79/lb.N.

Tim Schnakenberg, a University of Missouri Extension agronomist, reminds producers a simple soil test can help forage producers avoid the costly guessing game of how much fertilizer to purchase and apply. He recommends testing soils every three or four years (https://extension.missouri.edu/….

"If you're not soil testing, you're already behind," Schnakenberg said.

While 2023 fertilizer prices are down from last year's highs, the prices are still high enough that a soil test can be beneficial to producers' bottom lines.

Grazing and haying affect nitrogen levels differently, he said.

Cows that graze pastures recycle nitrogen through the soil with their manure and urine. Legumes that grow in grazed pastures also add nitrogen to the soil, he said.

Putting up a hay crop also removes a considerable amount of nutrients, Schnakenberg said.

In addition to soil testing to see how much fertilizer is needed, there are other practices that can save money on nutrients, he said. These include liming the soil, utilizing manure, injecting manure or commercial fertilizer into the soil, using nitrogen stabilizers and splitting applications to reduce fertilizer losses.

All fertilizers are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago. 10-34-0 is 18% less expensive, DAP is 21% lower, MAP is 26% less expensive, potash is 29% lower, UAN32 is 31% less expensive, UAN28 is 33% lower, anhydrous is 40% less expensive and urea is 41% lower compared to a year prior.

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/….

Anhydrous' average retail fertilizer price dropped below $1,000/ton for the first time since the last week of October 2021 at $995/ton. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Apr 25-29 2022 1049 1082 881 1004
May 23-27 2022 1056 1082 879 989
Jun 20-Jun 24 2022 1040 1058 885 902
Jul 18-22 2022 1007 1043 887 836
Aug 15-19 2022 978 1026 881 807
Sep 12-16 2022 952 1009 877 808
Oct 10-14 2022 925 986 863 824
Nov 7-11 2022 931 980 853 812
Dec 5-Dec 9 2022 920 950 819 784
Jan 2-Jan 6 2023 876 879 752 739
Jan 30-Feb 3 2023 847 862 704 698
Feb 27-Mar 3 2023 827 827 666 648
Mar 27-31 2023 818 810 644 626
Apr 24-28 2023 827 804 624 595
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Apr 25-29 2022 906 1534 631 730
May 23-27 2022 906 1531 634 731
Jun 20-Jun 24 2022 905 1497 616 716
Jul 18-22 2022 894 1431 598 696
Aug 15-19 2022 878 1336 576 676
Sep 12-16 2022 861 1369 578 665
Oct 10-14 2022 759 1417 576 670
Nov 7-11 2022 758 1434 582 680
Dec 5-Dec 9 2022 751 1415 581 681
Jan 2-Jan 6 2023 754 1302 573 673
Jan 30-Feb 3 2023 754 1223 518 583
Feb 27-Mar 3 2023 741 1077 444 525
Mar 27-31 2023 741 1026 428 513
Apr 24-28 2023 740 928 426 508

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN