OMAHA (DTN) -- Marginally higher retail fertilizer prices are again the feature of the market, according to prices for the last day of May and the first four days of June 2021. This marks the third straight week of slightly higher fertilizer prices.

As has been the case in recent weeks, no fertilizer's price was significantly higher, which DTN designates as 5% or more.

The largest increase was in UAN32, where the average retail price gained 3.5% to $412/ton. DAP, at $652/ton, was 3% higher than last month.

Urea and potash were each up 2%, at $524/ton and $443/ton, respectively.

The average retail price of MAP, anhydrous and UAN28 all increased 1%. MAP was $712/ton, anhydrous $719/ton, UAN28 $363/ton.

10-34-0 had an average price of $619/ton, up less than 1% compared to last month.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.57/lb.N, anhydrous $0.44/lb.N, UAN28 $0.65/lb.N and UAN32 $0.64/lb.N.

Farmers in many places of the Corn Belt are applying nitrogen fertilizer in side-dressing operations right now. A recent article in the University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News blog titled "Are Split Applications of Nitrogen Fertilizer in Minnesota Worth It?" examined the practice and its effectiveness.

Authors Gabriel Dias Paiao, a graduate research assistant, and Fabian Fernandex, an Extension nutrient management specialist, wrote that split applications of nitrogen fertilizer are "undoubtedly beneficial" in areas of Minnesota with sandy soils, which have low nutrient and water holding capacity. However, in other parts of the state with different soils, the results have been inconsistent and are largely influenced by weather conditions.

Recent studies in fine-textured soils both in Minnesota and across the Corn Belt show excessive precipitation after a single pre-plant nitrogen application results in greater susceptibility in early season loss. On the other hand, a lack of precipitation after in-season application reduces grain yield in comparison to a single pre-plant application, due to the fertilizer being unavailable for crop uptake.

"Unfortunately, the accuracy of season-long weather is still low and limits our ability to preemptively adjust management decisions to consistently maximize input efficiency in response to weather conditions," the authors wrote. "This means that management decisions often have to be made based on the results of research trials from past years and previous experience on the likelihood of a desired outcome."

To read the entire blog post from the University of Minnesota Extension, click on the following link: https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/….

With retail fertilizer prices moving higher over recent months, all fertilizers are now higher in price from a year ago.

Potash is now 22% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 32% higher, urea is 41% more expensive, UAN32 49% higher, anhydrous is 51% more expensive, UAN28 is 54% higher, DAP is 60% more expensive and MAP 65% is 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.

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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