Despite US and Israel-Iran Conflict, Retail Fertilizers Start March Mixed

OMAHA (DTN) — For now, retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first week of March 2026 show very little difference from recent weeks. This may change with rising wholesale prices due to the military conflict in the Middle East.

Retail prices were mixed with five of the eight major fertilizers higher while the remaining three nutrients were lower compared to last month. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

For the fifth straight week, the one fertilizer with a considerable price increase was urea. The nitrogen fertilizer was 5% higher compared to last month with an average price of $625/ton.

The remaining four slightly more expensive fertilizers were MAP with an average price of $882/ton, anhydrous $895/ton, UAN28 $412/ton and UAN32 $467/ton.

Three fertilizers were slightly lower looking back to the prior month. DAP had an average price of $850/ton, potash $487/ton and 10-34-0 $663/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.68/lb.N, anhydrous $0.55/lb.N, UAN28 $0.74/lb.N and UAN32 $0.73/lb.N.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) said it is in communication with the White House and USDA this week to discuss ways to mitigate the effects of the halt on fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of additional aid payments have been discussed, according to Dow Jones.

“We have had some conversations on what could be included in another supplemental,” the AFBF’s Chief Economist John Newton said during a press conference.

The AFBF said it is discussing multiple ways for the government to handle the inability of farmers to shoulder higher fertilizer costs, which includes giving military escorts to cargo vessels using the Strait and lifting existing duties on suppliers like Morocco. USDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

All eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier.

10-34-0 is 3% higher, both MAP and potash are 9% more expensive, DAP is 11% higher, urea is 14% more expensive, UAN28 is 16% higher, UAN32 is 18% more expensive and anhydrous is 19% higher looking back to last year.

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/agriculture/web/ag/markets/fuels-fertilizers#!/fertilizers.

The start of the U.S. and Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East is bad news for farmers staring at even higher input prices, according to a DTN article. You can read about here: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2026/03/04/seven-eight-major-fertilizers-higher.

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

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