A DTN survey finds some shortages in fertilizer supply.
Farmers may find shortages of several types of fertilizer this spring, but liquid starters could top the list of products that send both producers and dealers scrambling for more. That’s the synopsis of a DTN Morning Snapshot survey, according to Cheryl Warren, DTN staff reporter.
Last week’s producer survey found 27 percent reporting their retailers couldn’t guarantee all the phosphate fertilizer they needed in time for planting, Warren says. Another 21 percent reported they were unable to secure their first choice in nitrogen fertilizers, such as anhydrous or urea, writes Warren.
Warren says DTN also interviewed fertilizer dealers in seven states about the problem: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Here’s what DTN learned, according to Warren:
- All but two dealers interviewed said they had enough fertilizer on hand to cover all spring pre-pay orders, though the two that were short in supply said they had at least 90 percent of their needs.
- All dealers were unanimous in their concerns over future availability of certain types of fertilizer.
- Emerging as the area of greatest concern among most dealers interviewed was the availability of liquid starters for the spring.
Will nitrogen fall short on supply? One retailer told Warren that an ammonia plant in Alberta, Canada, has been down for a couple weeks and that could be problematic, particularly in the northern states.
Warren points out that planning “is going to be the name of the game when it comes to securing fertilizer for both dealers and producers,” which will cause “dealers to realign with their strongest customers.”
She notes that some dealers interviewed are taking some orders already for fall 2008 and beyond, though not in great numbers.
(Source: DTN Morning Snapshot)
