SAN CARLOS, Calif. and CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers Business Network (FBN®), the global AgTech platform and farmer-to-farmer network, today released its first Fertilizer Price Transparency Report, an in-depth examination of how rapidly increasing fertilizer prices will impact farmers’ application rates this fall and planting decisions next year. The report is based on FBN member input on fall fertilizer price quotes, their 2022 application rates, and a preview of their 2023 crop plans. FBN’s analysis exposed widespread fertilizer price variation across regions–especially with nitrogen fertilizer–which could suggest a lack of price transparency with possible implications for 2023 crop plans. The FBN analysis of 2022 fertilizer prices and the impact of extreme price increases on farmers’ fall application rates and 2023 cropping decisions is the most comprehensive research to date on the topic.
“With natural gas prices still high and major market disruptions due to the Russia-Ukraine war, we don’t expect fertilizer prices to normalize in time for farmers’ 2023 crop planning,” said FBN Chief Economist Kevin McNew. “The widespread regional variation in fertilizer prices–about twice as much with nitrogen fertilizers as potash fertilizers–could be symptomatic of the same lack of transparency FBN has previously exposed in other input markets such as seed. A lack of price transparency can impact ROI significantly, tighten operational budgets, and make crop planning for next year even tougher for farmers in an already challenging environment.”
FBN also today introduced its new Nitrogen Planning Tool in the FBN app, offering U.S corn farmers a personalized nitrogen recommendation that considers fertilizer price, expected yield, and expected crop sale price. This tool leverages data from 12 universities across the corn belt that have been running nitrogen tests across their states for more than 20 years to calculate the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN). The tool is free to FBN members; FBN membership is also free.
Key Findings in the FBN Fertilizer Report:
- FBN found the high price of fertilizer will likely cause farmers to adjust application rates and cropping choices post-harvest and into the next growing season with considerable fertilizer price variance across the U.S., especially with nitrogen-based products.
- The report examined year-over-year price increases nationally and at the state level for Anhydrous, Potash, MAP, UAN, DAP fertilizers
- Over the past two years, Urea prices have increased nearly 200% and DAP prices 112%
- Even within a small, localized area, nitrogen-based fertilizer values show about twice as much variation as potash fertilizers, which could be symptomatic of lack of transparency. Fertilizer prices, unlike grain prices, are not publicly quoted by ag retailers and fertilizer suppliers.
- FBN examined application rates of nitrogen fertilizer for corn, wheat, and cotton and found considerable variation in nitrogen application rates across the country.
- Seventeen percent of FBN farmer members surveyed said they would lower their application rates this fall, suggesting that fertilizer cost increases (along with drought in the Plains) may be constraining some farmer application rates.
- Because southern growing regions tend to apply more nitrogen fertilizer, these growers are disproportionately affected by high fertilizer prices.
- FBN surveyed members on 2023 acreage intentions for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and sorghum, compared to 2022 plantings.
- Wheat emerged as the big gainer for 2023 acres as 43% of farmers said they would be increasing plantings in the coming season.
- Only 12% of responding farmers indicated planting would decrease.
- Double cropping wheat with soybeans will also likely turn higher as the Delta and Southeast states likely increase wheat plantings this fall and follow next spring’s wheat harvest with a soybean crop to help add back nitrogen.
- Farmers are more undecided with corn and soybean acres as a whole. More farmers were generally going to increase corn acres in 2023 (24%) versus increasing soybean acres in 2023 (22%).
- Regional differences were fairly pronounced as planting rates of nitrogen-intensive crops in the South and East will likely be lowered in 2023.
About the FBN Fertilizer Survey
Farmers Business Network® (FBN®) was founded in 2014 with the mission of returning margin back to the farmer, in part by using FBN member surveys and data analysis to expose the lack of price transparency in key input markets. Data supplied by FBN members often exposes extreme price variations and asymmetric acces farmers have to information provided by the large multinational companies from which they purchase inputs.
FBN’s Fertilizer Transparency Report is the latest example of providing such information access, conducted via electronic survey of U.S. members in September 2022 to inquire about the prices they were quoted for eight key fertilizer categories this fall. In addition, the survey included questions about nitrogen application rates on their corn, wheat and cotton crop in 2022, as well as their intended application rates in fall 2022 versus fall 2021. Finally, considering that rising fertilizer costs create asymmetric impacts on a farmer’s budget based on which crop they grow, a set of questions was used to determine 2023 crop acreage choices. The results were anonymized, cleaned and aggregated to produce many of the findings in this report. FBN farmers who responded received a detailed report showing how their fertilizer prices compared to nearby farmers and in many cases exposed wide price variation.
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About FBN
Farmers Business Network® (FBN®) is an independent AgTech platform and farmer-to-farmer network with a mission to power the prosperity of family farmers around the world while working towards a sustainable future. Its Farmers First® promise has attracted over 48,000 members to the network with a common goal of helping farmers maximize their farm’s profit potential with data and technology enabled direct-to farmer commerce, community and sustainability offerings. FBN has set out to redefine value and convenience for farmers by helping reduce the cost of production and maximize the value of their crops. The FBN network has grown to cover more than 105 million acres of member farms in the US, Canada, and Australia. Blending the best of Midwestern agricultural roots and Silicon Valley technology, the company has over 900 personnel and principal offices in San Carlos, CA, Chicago, IL, Sioux Falls, SD, a Canadian Headquarters in High River, Alberta, and an Australian Headquarters in Perth with significant warehouse and logistics, remote and field employees across the US, Canada and Australia.
To learn more, visit: www.fbn.com
Disclaimer: The material provided is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, business, legal, investment or professional advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, financial planner, or investment manager. Neither Farmer's Business Network, Inc. nor any of its affiliates makes any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or any information contained in the material and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
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Media Contact
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awolfcale@farmersbusinessnetwork.com
(917) 576 8767
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