Russ Quinn

Prices of all eight major fertilizers were higher in the first full week of May 2026 compared to a month earlier. However, only one fertilizer was significantly higher, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. The remaining seven nutrients were just slightly more expensive.

The average retail price of anhydrous was $1,118 per ton during the first full week of May 2026, up about 3% from $1,088 a month ago. The price of anhydrous is now up 43% from a year ago. (DTN chart)

As warmer temperatures begin to be seen in the Midwest, alfalfa weevil populations could be on the increase. Experts tell alfalfa growers to scout their fields every few days and treat fields with high populations of the pest. Failure to do this could lead to lost forage yield and quality.

There is no universal beef cow size, as every cattle producer has different operations and grazing conditions. Extension specialists point to several factors that can help cow-calf producers narrow the window when considering the appropriate cow size for their herd.

Producers should evaluate forage resources, environmental conditions and production costs to determine the most efficient and profitable fit for their individual herd.

Federal investment has brought high-speed internet to more parts of rural America since the COVID-19 pandemic, but the digital divide persists.

For the first time since the second week of February 2026, some retail fertilizer prices are slightly lower compared to a month earlier. Two fertilizers, potash and UAN32, were slightly lower looking back a month. The other six fertilizers were slightly higher.

Fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the third full week of May 2026 displayed a situation we have not seen since the second week in February — two of the nutrients' prices moved lower. That is a run of 14 straight weeks of higher nutrient prices.

Cultivating corn is a bit of a lost art on the farm. No-till practices have made cultivation nearly obsolete on many row-crop farms. One cultivating implement decades ago was called a

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be mostly higher compared to last month. However, two fertilizers were lower than a month ago: Urea by 5%, with an average price of $823/ton, and UAN32 slightly lower with an average price of $585/ton.