OMAHA, July 15, 2026 - Retail fertilizer prices in the United States have now fallen for five consecutive weeks, marking the longest downward trend in months and giving farmers a much-needed break after a period of exceptionally high input costs. The decline has been driven primarily by nitrogen fertilizers, particularly UAN28, UAN32 and urea, at a time when growers are already evaluating fertilizer purchases for fall applications and the 2027 crop year.

Even with the recent correction, why does this matter? Because fertilizer remains one of the largest expenses in crop production, directly influencing corn acreage decisions, farm profitability and overall U.S. agricultural competitiveness. The biggest monthly declines came from UAN fertilizers, with UAN28 averaging $493 per ton and UAN32 reaching $529 per ton, both down 7% from the previous month. Meanwhile, urea prices dropped 6% to $714 per ton, while anhydrous ammonia declined by 6% to $1,032 per ton.

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The current downturn suggests that supply conditions are improving, following the severe price spike recorded during spring when logistics constraints, strong seasonal demand and supply concerns pushed nitrogen values sharply higher. However, analysts warn that the recent declines should not be interpreted as a return to normal pricing conditions.

Fertilizer prices remain historically high and continue to pressure producer margins across major crop regions.

Farmers Are Still Paying More Than a Year Ago

Despite five weeks of lower prices, all eight major fertilizers remain more expensive than they were in July 2025. The largest annual increase belongs to anhydrous ammonia, which is still 34% higher year over year. Other annual increases include:

• UAN28: +18%
• DAP: +13%
• MAP: +13%
• Urea: +9%
• 10-34-0: +8%
• UAN32: +6%
• Potash: +3%

These increases continue to have a direct impact on crop budgets, cash flow management and expected returns per acre, particularly for corn producers, who remain the largest consumers of nitrogen fertilizers.

Why Fertilizer Costs Still Matter for Farm Economics

Input costs remain one of the biggest risks for U.S. agriculture in 2026. Although commodity prices have softened compared to previous highs, many growers are still facing elevated expenses related to:

• Fertilizer
• Crop protection products
• Machinery financing
• Labor and transportation
• Crop insurance costs

As a result, producers are increasingly relying on precision agriculture tools, variable-rate applications and more aggressive input management strategies to protect margins. On a nitrogen-value basis, prices currently average:

• Urea: $0.78 per pound of nitrogen
• Anhydrous: $0.63/lb.N
• UAN28: $0.88/lb.N
• UAN32: $0.83/lb.N

These figures continue to influence fertilizer purchasing strategies and could eventually affect planting intentions and yield expectations for the 2027 crop season.

Another important factor for the fertilizer market is the modernization of the U.S. transportation system. Inland waterways and river transportation remain essential to fertilizer distribution throughout the Corn Belt. Improvements in ports, locks and navigation infrastructure could help reduce logistical bottlenecks and lower distribution costs over the long term.

At the same time, federal investments aimed at increasing domestic fertilizer production capacity are expected to improve supply resilience and reduce dependence on imported nutrients. Still, industry analysts believe meaningful structural changes may take several years to translate into significantly lower prices for farmers.

Fertilizer Price Evolution (July 2025 - July 2026)

Dry Fertilizers

Liquid Fertilizers