Fertilizer Prices - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

The 2013 fertilizer market is a major concern for many producers.

Alan Goldsby is the supply manager for Central Harvest States.

Goldsby says strong crop prices and demand is supporting fertilizer prices.

He says many farmers have placed orders and he expects even more orders to be made before the end of the year. 

(Alan Goldsby / CHS Supply Manager) "We have had a fairly good ordering season for the fall, but the idea out there to me is there is a lot of pent up demand that hasn't hit the market yet. And so anticipate a flurry of activity and that could spark some up take in prices as we get to the end of the year."

Goldsby says anhydrous is a tough product to move.

He says low river levels on the Mississippi makes transporting an even bigger challenge, which could make supplies tight this spring.

(Alan Goldsby / CHS Supply Manager) "We are running to allocations already this early in the season, but applications are going strong we expect prices to remain very firm, to trade upward to firm with anhydrous ammonia because of the strong demand. Manufacturers' have a lot of their product sold already so there is very little incentive to drop prices at this point in time."

Goldsby says barges that haven't moved for 100 days are finally being unloaded in Memphis, Tennessee.