CAN (ON): Fuel prices up, fertilizer down
In the first survey for 2017, the Ontario Farm Input Monitoring Project found that fuel prices in the province as a group were up 9% from the same date last year, while fertilizer prices were down 10% on average, and pesticide prices as a group were slightly lower.
Conducted by Ridgetown College on May 31, 2017, the farm input monitoring project is a survey of farm supply stores to collect cash retail prices that commercial farmers pay, when purchasing bulk fuels, fertilizers, and pesticides. Prices are collected on 45 farm inputs from nine centres in Ontario. Prices are also collected in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana for comparison purposes.
The survey found that as of May 31, Ontario regular unleaded gasoline prices averaged $1/litre, diesel fuel (coloured) averaged 88 cents/litre and propane (farm dryer) prices averaged 43 cents.
On the fertilizer side, urea prices as of May 31 ranged from $470 to $600/tonne with an average price of $505. Nitrogen Solution (UAN) 28% prices ranged from $300 to $525 with an average price of $351/tonne. Mono-Ammonium Phosphate prices varied from $650 to $800/tonne with an average price of $690. Muriate of Potash prices averaged $495/tonne with a range from $455 to $625.
With respect to pesticide prices, 2,4-D Amine prices ranged from $9 to $13.64/litre with an average of $10.86. Atrazine prices ranged from $8.70 to $10.43/litre. Banvel II averaged $27.92/litre while Dual II Magnum prices averaged $44.61 per litre. The price for Halex ranged from $13.77 to $17 with an average of $15.32. Assure II prices averaged $79.69/litre while Reflex prices averaged $48.69. Sevin XLR prices ranged from $21.90 to $28.99/litre. Bravo prices averaged $10.88.
Compared to the U.S., some of the products higher priced in Ontario as of May 31 included: Regular unleaded gasoline (+12%); diesel fuel (+14%); Atrazine (+86%); Dual II Magnum (+16%); Basagran (+20%); and Sevin XLR (+19%).
Products lower priced in Ontario included: Propane -10%; Urea (-7%); Nitrogen Solution (-7%); Pursuit (-15%); Prowl (-8%); Callisto (-11%); Bravo (-19%); and Halex (-27%).
Source: Syngenta Canada