OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first full week of August 2026 show mixed trends compared to last month.

Five fertilizers were lower compared to last month while the remaining three were slightly higher. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Four of the five nutrients with less expensive prices had substantial price moves to the downside.

Leading the nutrients lower were the UAN solutions. UAN32 was 13% less expensive compared to a month ago with an average price of $458/ton. UAN28 was 10% lower looking back to last month and had an average price of $446/ton.

Anhydrous was 7% lower compared to last month and had an average price of $963/ton. Urea was 5% less expensive looking back to the prior month and had an average price of $678/ton.

10-34-0 was slightly lower compared to last month. The nutrient had an average price of $718/ton.

Three fertilizers were slightly higher compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $917/ton, MAP $959/ton and potash $495/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.74/lb.N, anhydrous $0.59/lb.N, UAN28 $0.80/lb.N and UAN32 $0.72/lb.N.

In an article titled "Economics and Politics at Farmfest," DTN Farm Business Editor Chris Clayton wrote about an ag outlook forum held at Farmfest in Minnesota last week. See it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/…. Economists at the forum warned some farmers will struggle to finance 2027 crops.

The topic of fertilizer was brought up. Faith Parum, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said input costs will continue to be a problem for farmers this fall and going into 2027.

"I don't believe we're going to see the fertilizer prices come back down for the next crop year," Parum said.

Frayne Olson, crops economist at North Dakota State University Extension, agreed, saying fall fertilizer prices are expected to remain similar to what farmers see right now.

"I'm not optimistic fertilizer prices will drop," he said. "If we can hold fertilizer prices where they are right now, that will be the best-case scenario."

Seven of the eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier.

Potash is 2% higher, urea is 5% more expensive, UAN28 is 6% higher, 10-34-0 is 7% more expensive, MAP is 8% higher, DAP is 12% more expensive and anhydrous is 26% higher looking back to last year.

One fertilizer is lower than a year ago. UAN32 is 8% lower than a year earlier.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.

In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/….

New research From New York University shows researchers have found the mechanism responsible for plants to know when they have taken up enough nitrogen. You can read about here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

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

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