OMAHA (DTN) -- Independence Day may have been last week, but there were no fireworks in retail fertilizer prices.

Prices tracked by DTN for the first week of July 2019 show prices continue to be mixed with no fertilizer posting a significant price move, which DTN considers to be a change of 5% or more.

Four fertilizers were higher compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $498/ton, up $1; MAP $532/ton, up $5; UAN28 $276/ton, up $5; and UAN32 $317/ton, up $3.

Three fertilizers were slightly lower compared to last month. Urea had an average price of $432/ton, down $2; 10-34-0 $482/ton, down $5; and anhydrous $584/ton, down $7.

In addition, one fertilizer was unchanged from the previous month. Potash had an average price of $392/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.

These are cloudy times for fertilizer retailers when it comes to what direction fertilizer prices could move in the short term. Some retailers believe summer refill prices could be somewhat lower, while others believe higher prices could be in the works as farmers begin to think about the fall fertilizer application season.

Fred Butt, sales agronomist for Donovan Farmers Coop located in Donovan, Illinois, said some fertilizer manufacturers are pushing for higher prices.

A major manufacturer already has higher prices for UAN, he said.

"But I don't know how successful they are going to be to get buyers," Butt told DTN.

Another nutrient that could see a price increase in the near term is potash. A major manufacturer came out a month ago with potash prices about $25/ton to $50/ton higher, he said.

"We bought some tons but not much," he said.

"In addition, issues with urea still sitting on barges on flooded Midwest rivers continue to make availability an issue. The nitrogen fertilizer continues to be hard to get, and this situation could be present until the flooding issues subsides somewhat," Butt said.

All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices shifting higher. DAP is 3% higher, MAP is 6% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 9% higher, potash is 11% more expensive, UAN32 is 13% higher, UAN28 is 14% more expensive, 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 2-6 2018	485	504	354	366
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018	488	505	355	366
Aug 27-31 2018	487	513	357	365
Sep 24-28 2018	494	520	361	385
Oct 22-26 2018	499	518	366	406
Nov 19-23 2018	501	530	368	407
Dec 17-21 2018	508	532	377	407
Jan 14-18 2019	512	534	383	407
Feb 11-15 2019	512	537	385	405
Mar 11-15 2019	510	534	386	402
Apr 8-12 2019	505	532	387	404
May 6-10 2019	501	527	391	418
Jun 3-7 2019	497	527	392	434
Jul 1-5, 2019	498	532	392	432
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Jul 2-6 2018	443	505	242	279
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018	443	498	242	279
Aug 27-31 2018	446	480	233	271
Sep 24-28 2018	449	493	236	278
Oct 22-26 2018	457	499	243	284
Nov 19-23 2018	457	520	246	287
Dec 17-21 2018	457	565	265	304
Jan 14-18 2019	462	580	270	305
Feb 11-15 2019	470	596	271	318
Mar 11-15 2019	469	596	269	318
Apr 8-12 2019	481	592	271	317
May 6-10 2019	487	595	267	310
Jun 3-7 2019	487	591	271	314
Jul 1-5, 2019	482	584	276	317

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(KD/BAS)

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