OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first week of December 2019 continued to move lower. One change from recent weeks is all eight of the major fertilizer are now lower after several weeks of seven of the eight being lower.

While all eight of the major fertilizers were lower in price from the month earlier, only one was significantly lower, which DTN designates as 5% or more. UAN32 was 5% lower compared to last month and the nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $276.

The remaining seven fertilizers were lower in price, but none were considerably lower. DAP had an average price of $445/ton, MAP $463/ton, potash $379/ton, urea $381/ton, 10-34-0 $470/ton, anhydrous $490/ton and UAN28 $242/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.41/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

As we approach the end of the year many farmers will purchase various inputs for tax purposes. Among the inputs farmers will buy is fertilizer for the next growing season.

I was curious to know what percentage of farmers buy ahead, so I put up a poll on Twitter. I will freely admit when I first joined Twitter didn't know how it would benefit me, but it is very useful as an easy way to reach the farmers who follow me.

My poll question: "So I was curious to know how farmers are handling their fertilizer needs as we close in on year end. What best describes your situation?" The answer choices were: Locking in all nutrients; Locking in some nutrients; and Not locking in nutrients.

My one-day poll had 25 respondents with 54% choosing "Locking in all nutrients". Twenty-nine percent responded with not locking in nutrients and 17% selected locking in some nutrients.

I really wasn't surprised by the results. I figured a majority would say they locked in all or some of their needs.

It was a little surprising that not locking in nutrients was the second most popular response. This poll shows that while some farmers might be willing to lock in all of their fertilizer needs before the end of the year, a certain percentage of farmers will not be doing this.

Retail fertilizers are mixed in price from a year ago. MAP is now 13% less expensive, DAP is 11% lower, urea is 7% less expensive, both anhydrous and UAN32 are 6% lower and UAN28 is 1% less expensive from last year at this time. In addition, both potash and 10-34-0 are 3% 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
Dec 3-7 2018	501	529	369	410
Dec 31-Jan 4 2019	508	533	381	407
Jan 28-Feb 1 2019	513	536	384	407
Feb 25-Mar 01 2019	511	535	386	404
Mar 25-29 2019	509	534	385	401
Apr 22-26 2019	497	530	388	408
May 20-24 2019	497	527	392	428
Jun 17-21 2019	496	532	392	435
Jul 15-19, 2019	497	532	392	430
Aug 12-16 2019	493	503	387	413
Sep 9-13 2019	486	482	385	407
Oct 7-11, 2019	472	473	383	403
Nov 4-8 2019	462	471	384	396
Dec 2-6 2019	445	463	379	381
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Dec 3-7 2018	457	524	249	293
Dec 31-Jan 4 2019	460	571	267	304
Jan 28-Feb 1 2019	468	585	271	313
Feb 25-Mar 01 2019	470	596	270	318
Mar 25-29 2019	470	597	269	318
Apr 22-26 2019	483	594	268	315
May 20-24 2019	487	595	270	314
Jun 17-21 2019	487	589	270	318
Jul 15-19, 2019	485	585	275	317
Aug 12-16 2019	475	543	258	295
Sep 9-13 2019	471	516	253	289
Oct 7-11, 2019	470	509	253	289
Nov 4-8 2019	473	499	249	289
Dec 2-6 2019	470	490	242	276

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(CZ/SK)

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