OMAHA (DTN) -- The majority of retail fertilizer prices continued their months-long trend of moving lower the first week of February 2020. However, for the first in quite some time, three fertilizers were slightly higher compared to the previous month, according to sellers surveyed by DTN.

Only one fertilizer had a significant price decline from last month: DAP was 5% lower and had an average price of $413 per ton.

Four other fertilizers had a slight price decline from the previous month. MAP had an average price of $435/ton, potash $373/ton, 10-34-0 $464/ton and UAN28 $235/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers had minor price increases compared to last month. Urea had an average price of $361/ton, anhydrous $490/ton and UAN32 $277/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

The debate over how often to apply phosphorus (P) fertilizer is one crop producers don't always agree on, with some applying it every year and others applying it every other year. A recent post from the University of Minnesota Extension's Minnesota Crop News titled, "Phosphorus fertilizer application only needed every other year in corn-soybean rotation" said research in Minnesota shows every other year of application may be just right.

A 10-year study by University of Minnesota Extension researchers that ended in 2018 shows the most efficient way to apply P would be every other year in a corn-soybean rotation. The study showed that applying fertilizers, such as MAP or DAP, in the fall or the spring before planting soybeans does not increase yield.

As long as enough P was applied before the previous corn crop to account for the needs of both the corn and soybean crops, the soybean yield was maximized. For corn, results showed a four-to-five bushel per acre (bpa) average yield advantage when some or all of the P fertilizer was applied in the fall or spring before.

"This means that farmers could save money on application costs by only applying before corn, instead of before both corn and soybean crops," the report stated.

The study had field trials in three different locations across the state. The results of the study can be found at: https://mnsoilfertility.com/…

New research in Minnesota has also shown a spring application of P on high calcium soils in central and western Minnesota may have an advantage. Calcium in soil can bind to the phosphate in the P fertilizer, forming calcium phosphate, which is less available to the crop during early growth.

The results of a study from the 2019 growing season indicated that spring P fertilizer application resulted in an average 7% greater corn yield than the same amount of fertilizer applied in the fall. Soybean yields were also increased by P fertilizer but there was no difference between the fall and spring application.

"The data is intriguing, but since we only conducted research at three corn locations, more data is needed to determine if farmers should consider spring application of P," said Dan Kaiser, University of Minnesota Extension nutrient management specialist and lead researcher on the project.

To read the entire University of Minnesota Extension report, visit: https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/…

Retail fertilizers are now all lower in price from a year ago. MAP and DAP are both now 19% lower, anhydrous is 18% less expensive, both UAN28 and UAN32 are 13% lower, urea is 12% less expensive, potash is 3% lower and 10-34-0 is 1% less expensive from last year at this time.

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
Feb 4-8 2019	511	536	385	408
Mar 4-8 2019	510	534	386	403
Apr 1-5 2019	509	533	386	405
Apr 29-May 3 2019	498	528	390	413
May 27-31 2019	497	527	392	430
Jun 24-28, 2019	495	531	392	429
Jul 22-26 2019	495	531	394	430
Aug 19-23 2019	491	495	387	413
Sep 16-20 2019	480	478	384	404
Oct 14-18, 2019	465	472	382	402
Nov 11-15 2019	457	465	382	388
Dec 9-13 2019	445	463	378	380
Jan 6-10 2020	435	444	375	358
Feb 3-7 2020	413	435	373	361
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Feb 4-8 2019	470	596	271	318
Mar 4-8 2019	470	596	270	317
Apr 1-5 2019	474	599	272	319
Apr 29-May 3 2019	487	595	268	315
May 27-31 2019	487	590	270	314
Jun 24-28, 2019	487	584	269	318
Jul 22-26 2019	485	582	272	320
Aug 19-23 2019	475	530	257	291
Sep 16-20 2019	471	509	254	289
Oct 14-18, 2019	471	507	253	289
Nov 11-15 2019	473	496	246	284
Dec 9-13 2019	470	489	241	276
Jan 6-10 2020	471	486	237	272
Feb 3-7 2020	464	490	235	277

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(SK/BAS)

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