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FBN Found Up to 283% Price Variation for the Same Farm Chemical—Here’s What the Figure Means

FBN’s 2023 report found up to 283% price variation for dicamba DGA (4 lbs), based on member invoices for purchases made from October 2021 through February 2023. It is a historical finding, not a current price quote.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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Farmers Business Network (FBN) reported that farmers paid prices for dicamba diglycolamine salt (DGA), 4 pounds, that varied by as much as 283% in its 2023 Ag Chemical Price Transparency Report. The figure reflects invoice-based purchases dated October 2021 through February 2023—not a current quote or a price every farmer faced. FBN’s report is best read as a historical snapshot of price differences in its submitted-invoice data.

What FBN’s 283% figure measures

The product at the top of the 2023 report’s price-discrepancy finding was dicamba DGA at a 4-pound rate. FBN said the prices farmers paid varied by 283%. Its analysis used member-submitted invoices for purchases made from October 2021 to February 2023 and covered more than 800 agricultural chemicals. The figure describes the largest reported spread in that dataset; it does not mean every farmer paid a different price, nor does it establish what dicamba should cost now. FBN’s 2023 report

The report drew on transaction invoices rather than only advertised prices. FBN Chief Economist and report author Kevin McNew said the invoices showed prices farmers were “actually” transacting at. That is useful evidence of paid-price variation among participating farmers, but the data collection and analysis were conducted by FBN, not an independent auditor.

How broad was the 2023 analysis?

A contemporaneous Agriculture.com account described the analysis as covering more than 3,000 data points from approximately 300 farms in 37 states. It also reported that FBN adjusted for the broader product price trend as chemical prices first rose and then fell during a volatile period shaped by supply-chain disruptions. Those details are reported by Agriculture.com; the 283% result remains FBN’s finding from its own data.

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The same coverage cited a historical example: Roundup PowerMAX 3 had an average list price of $60 per gallon in June 2022, while farmers reportedly paid between $45 and $73 per gallon. Those are figures from that period, as recounted in 2023—not current market prices. A list price and an invoice-paid price are also different kinds of figures, so they should not be treated as interchangeable.

What later FBN reports say—and what they do not prove

FBN’s later reports provide newer snapshots, but their figures come from different reporting periods and datasets. They should not be read as a controlled year-over-year trend without comparable underlying methods.

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FBN report Reported scope and period Reported variation
2023 report Invoices for purchases dated October 2021 to February 2023; more than 800 chemicals, according to FBN. Agriculture.com reported more than 3,000 data points from about 300 farms across 37 states. Up to 283% for dicamba DGA (4 lbs), according to FBN.
2025 U.S. report summary More than 1,390 pricing data points dated June 1, 2024 to January 15, 2025, across 26 states, according to FBN. Up to 211% nationally and 108% regionally, according to FBN. FBN’s 2025 report summary
2026 U.S. report page 1,372 pricing data points across 31 states and 122 or more herbicides, fungicides, and adjuvants, according to FBN. FBN describes some farmers paying almost 2.5 times more nationwide and 1.5 times more statewide. FBN’s 2026 report page

FBN also estimated in its 2025 summary that farmers could have saved 32% by buying the same active ingredients through FBN Direct rather than another chemical retailer. That is FBN’s company-reported estimate, not an independently established result or a guarantee of savings for an individual purchase.

Why a headline percentage is not a price quote

A large percentage spread shows that prices in a dataset differed; it does not by itself tell a farmer whether a particular offer is high or low today. Prices can only be compared meaningfully when the products and transaction circumstances match. For a useful comparison, check:

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  • Product identity and concentration: confirm the active ingredient, formulation, and concentration are the same. “Dicamba” alone may not identify the same product.
  • Package size and unit: compare the same volume or weight and calculate the price on a consistent per-gallon or per-pound basis.
  • Purchase date and location: prices from different seasons or regions may reflect different market conditions and local competition.
  • Price type: distinguish a list price from the amount actually invoiced, and account for rebates or other discounts where applicable.

These checks help distinguish a genuine price difference from a mismatch in product, unit, date, or deal terms.

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How farmers can investigate their own chemical costs

FBN says members who upload a non-FBN chemical invoice can use its price transparency tool to view national price comparisons, local benchmarks, and seasonal trends. That can provide one reference point, but a benchmark is not a guaranteed quote or proof that a specific transaction is out of line. FBN Direct also lists agricultural chemicals, including dicamba DGA. FBN’s tool and product information

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For a practical check, compare an invoice against a current quote for the exact same formulation and package size, in the same market and on similar terms. Keep the quote and invoice together, including any rebate or discount documentation, so the comparison is based on the final amount paid rather than a headline list price.

Quick Recap

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SMITH PERFORMANCE SPRAYERS 190285 1-Gallon Bleach and Chemical Sprayer for Lawns and Gardens or Cleaning Decks, Siding, and Concrete
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SaleBestseller No. 2
Valley Industries Adjustable Aluminum Jet Stream Spray Gun - 8 GPM, 800 PSI, 13'
Valley Industries Adjustable Aluminum Jet Stream Spray Gun - 8 GPM, 800 PSI, 13"
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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