What will fertilizers cost this year compared to last year?

Fertilizer will be hitting the dirt this spring, but nitrogen availability has been a question, and prices are rising.

“Nitrogen is one of the most important inputs for most growers across the Midwest. It’s also one of the highest inputs, and for good reasons, because it’s the number one driver of yield and protein if you’re concerned with that in the field, and the one thing we know that we can control to increase yields pretty easily because of how limited it is in most fields and most environments,” said Robb Muhr.

All eight major fertilizers are higher in price this week. Analysts with DTN found UAN32 rose nine percent, while UAN28 went up seven percent. Other types also saw price hikes, but none by more than five percent. Four are now higher in price than this time last year, which includes DAP, 10-34-0, UAN23, and UAN32.

Related Stories
As budget hearings continue on Capitol Hill, policymakers focus on long-term solutions to stabilize the fertilizer market to support U.S. farmers.
AFBF Economist Dr. Faith Parum break down new survey findings on fertilizer affordability and producer sentiment heading into the 2026 growing season.
The analysis models how trade disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz may continue to drive up the cost of fertilizer.
National Land Realty’s Jeramy Stephens explains how rising input costs and economic uncertainty are impacting the farmland market and what landowners should watch moving forward.
Lane Howard and Adam Andrews with the National Corn Growers Association joined us in the studio discuss EPA’s approval of summer E15 sales, ongoing fuel market concerns, and the industry’s push for a long-term biofuels solution for farmers.
Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation discusses how stewardship is driving efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness in the dairy industry.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Dr. Jeffrey Gold provides insights on supporting aging populations in rural communities on this week’s Rural Health Matters segment.
OHFB President Bill Patterson shares an update from Washington on the group’s policy priorities and the issues shaping agriculture ahead of the 2026 planting season.
Ben Kurtzman with American Farmland Trust discusses the growing pressure on farmland and ranchland and the steps being taken to help conserve farms and ranches across the country ,as unrest in the Middle East adds more obstacles for producers.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson warns that rising electricity demand from AI and data centers could strain the grid and affect rural electric cooperatives if U.S. power infrastructure cannot keep up.
Tidal Grow’s AlignN delivers encapsulated nitrogen to leaves, boosting in-season response, yield gains, and farm profits.