Maximizing return on investment is the name of the game with high fertilizer costs. NDSU Extension Soil Scientist Dave Franzen says the focus should be based on maximizing “Our fertilizer recommendations are set up to do just that. We may not hit the highest yield possible, but it’s often more expensive to get the last few bushels than it does to let them go and use the higher rate.” Farmers can use available fertility calculators to maximize profit. “It doesn’t care yield goals. The yield goal formulas forget the soil is there too and that’s where a great percentage of our nitrogen comes from. It also takes into account the cost of the nitrogen and the price the farmer gets for their crop.”