OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizers tracked by DTN for the second week of July 2019 show more of the same with prices once again mixed. As has been the trend in recent weeks, no fertilizer price moved significantly in either direction.

Five fertilizers were higher compared to last month with none up a sizable amount. DAP had an average price of $497/ton, MAP $532/ton, potash $392/ton, UAN28 $276/ton and UAN32 $317/ton.

Three fertilizers were slightly lower compared to last month but again the move lower was fairly small. Urea had an average price of $431/ton, 10-34-0 $485/ton and anhydrous $585/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.47/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.49/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

With crop margins tight, farmers are always trying to control input costs. Fertilizer is a major cost in crop production and over application can lead to decreased profitability.

In a post from The University of Minnesota Extension Crop News website titled "5 Tips for Cutting Phosphorus, Potassium Fertilizer Costs," Extension Soil Fertility Specialist Dan Kaiser wrote that while the use of commercial fertilizers is vital for high productivity, there are a few ways to help to trim fertilizer costs and still maintain profitability.

First, do soil tests as the results tell how likely it is that a crop will respond to a nutrient. Soil tests are indexes of nutrient availability for crops and high soil test values suggest it is unlikely fertilizer application is needed, Kaiser wrote.

Second, short-term reductions in the application rates of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) do not result in rapid depletion of nutrients. While a reduction in soil test levels over time is expected as nutrients are removed from the soil and are not replaced, the rate of depletion is slow even with no fertilizer application, he wrote.

"Our research has consistently found that applying two thirds to one half of the expected removal of P or K can maintain soil test values in the medium to high classifications without risking a reduction in yield," Kaiser wrote.

Using variable rate technology and consider application timing are other ways farmers can trim fertilizer costs while still maintaining profitability.

To read the entire the Minnesota Crop News post click on the following link: https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/…

All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year. DAP is 3% higher, MAP is 6% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 10% higher, potash is 11% more expensive, both UAN28 and UAN32 are 14% higher, anhydrous is 16% more expensive and urea is 18% higher 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
Jul 9-13 2018	485	504	354	366
Aug 6-10 2018	487	507	356	363
Sep 3-7 2018	488	514	358	366
Oct 1-5 2018	501	523	364	389
Oct 29-Nov 2 2018	506	528	366	408
Nov 26-30 2018	501	530	369	409
Dec 24-28 2018	507	533	379	407
Jan 21-25 2019	512	535	383	409
Feb 18-22 2019	512	536	385	404
Mar 18-22 2019	509	533	386	401
Apr 15-19 2019	504	531	388	404
May 13-17 2019	498	526	392	426
Jun 10-14 2019	497	527	392	434
Jul 8-12, 2019	497	532	392	431
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Jul 9-13 2018	443	505	242	279
Aug 6-10 2018	445	482	233	271
Sep 3-7 2018	446	480	232	271
Oct 1-5 2018	451	488	237	279
Oct 29-Nov 2 2018	457	505	245	285
Nov 26-30 2018	457	519	246	287
Dec 24-28 2018	457	568	266	303
Jan 21-25 2019	467	584	270	313
Feb 18-22 2019	470	596	271	317
Mar 18-22 2019	470	597	270	318
Apr 15-19 2019	481	594	270	317
May 13-17 2019	487	595	267	311
Jun 10-14 2019	487	591	271	314
Jul 8-12, 2019	485	585	276	317

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(CZ/BAS)

© Copyright 2019 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.