Fertilizer Futures

Watch Urea, UAN, and DAP prices closely. These inputs significantly impact your production costs, so understanding their trends is crucial for effective budgeting.

UFV Urea (US Gulf) CBOT UFV • Front: Oct 2025 USX 378.75 -0.20% DFN DAP FOB NOLA CBOT DFN • Front: Oct 2025 USX 767.00 -0.07%

FAQs

What futures matter most to grain farms?

For most grain operations, start with revenue markets and the input markets that drive costs.

  • Revenue: Corn, Soybeans, Wheat (Chicago/SRW, Kansas City/HRW, Minneapolis/HRS). Canadian growers should also track Canola.
  • Key inputs (costs): ULSD (diesel) for fuel, Propane for grain drying, and Fertilizer (Urea, UAN, DAP).
  • Also useful: Natural Gas (fertilizer feedstock), Crude/Refined products (broader energy trend), and USD/CAD if you sell or buy across the border.

How do I use futures to estimate cash price?

Use your local basis to translate board price to a farmgate estimate.

Formula: Estimated Cash = Futures + Basis

  • Pick the delivery month your buyer is quoting.
  • Find the current futures price for that month.
  • Add your local basis (it can be negative or positive).

Example: If Dec Corn = $5.20 and your basis is –$0.25, estimated cash ≈ $4.95.

Tip: Basis changes over time—always check posted bids for actual offers.

What affects basis in my area?

Basis = local reality. Common drivers:

  • Local supply & demand: harvest pressure, on-farm/storage availability, end-user needs.
  • Logistics: rail/barge capacity, river levels, truck availability, diesel costs.
  • Buyer competition & margins: ethanol/crush plants, mills, exporters.
  • Quality & specs: moisture, protein, damage.
  • Seasonality & weather: storms, freeze/thaw, road bans.
  • Currency: USD/CAD shifts can move cross-border basis.

Should I track diesel/propane alongside grain prices?

Yes. They’re big, volatile input costs. Watching ULSD (diesel) and Propane next to grain helps you:

  • Budget and lock in fuel/drying costs when prices dip.
  • Protect margins by timing purchases relative to crop price moves.
  • Plan harvest/drying with fewer surprises.

Which months are “new-crop” vs “old-crop”?

“Old-crop” = grain already in the bin/current marketing year. “New-crop” = the upcoming harvest. Typical references:

  • Corn: Dec = new-crop; Mar/May/Jul = old-crop.
  • Soybeans: Nov = new-crop; Jan/Mar/May = old-crop.
  • Wheat:
    • Chicago SRW & KC HRW: Jul = new-crop; May (and earlier) = old-crop.
    • Minneapolis Spring Wheat (HRS): Sep = new-crop; May/Jul = old-crop.
  • Canola (ICE): Nov = new-crop; Jan/Mar/May = old-crop.

Note: Local harvest timing and buyer conventions can vary—match the month your buyer uses.

DISCLAIMER: The grain price information provided on Farmbucks.com is for informational purposes only and is subject to change at any time. Prices are sourced from participating grain companies, verified farmer reports and our trusted partners such as Barchart and DTN. While we work to ensure accuracy, discrepancies may occur between the prices listed on this website and those provided by grain buyers. Users are responsible for contacting the purchaser directly to confirm current prices and selling instructions. Farmbucks does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the prices displayed and assumes no liability for decisions made based on this information.

Futures Market Data: Futures price data on Farmbucks is provided by DTN, CME Group, and ICE. This data is for informational purposes only and may be subject to delays or inaccuracies. Please consult official exchange sources or your broker for trading decisions.

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