The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach highlighted the Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator that is available to help farmers find the maximum return to nitrogen fertilizer applications and the most profitable application rate for their farm.

The Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator can be found here.

This online tool is rapidly updated to allow for changing hybrid genetics, rotations and climatic conditions. The Iowa database in the calculator was updated in 2012 with 2011 response data and now contains 214 trials for corn following soybean and 111 trials for corn following corn.

The calculator can be used for both corn and soybean rotations and corn-on-corn operations. It allows farmers to compare up to five price ratios – pricing options for nitrogen and corn. Farmers can reach out to their local fertilizer suppliers to find current fertilizer prices

The calculator then lets farmers determine the optimal rate of application based on up to four different corn prices.