N Rate Risk Protection Program

2026 N Rate Risk Protection Program enrollment is open!

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Curious about reducing your nitrogen rate for your 2026 corn crop?

Every farming decision impacts your bottom line and your land. And when it comes to nitrogen fertilizer, it can be a major input cost. The Nitrogen Rate Risk Protection program helps you find your optimal and economical rate, which can save you money and increase your farm’s resiliency.

Through this free-to-participate program, you’ll get a farm-specific phone call from a PFI agronomist to talk about feasible reductions, while maintaining yields. If a yield drop occurs after lowering your nitrogen, you’ll receive a $30/acre payment. Any acres completing the program with reduced nitrogen application will receive $5 per acre payment regardless of your yield outcome.

Farmers who are new to saving on inputs and farmers who’ve reduced nitrogen rates before, are eligible for the program.

Questions?

Check out our frequently asked questions.

Or contact PFI’s senior field crops viability coordinator, Chelsea Ferrie, by emailing farmadmin@practicalfarmers.org or by calling (515) 232-5661 ext 1040.

For resources on how to plan for an economical nitrogen rate, click here.

Looking for stackable programs? Check out this link for other funding opportunities. Click here for program milestones and more details.

Enroll by April 30, 2026

– Eligibility Requirements

– Program Steps

– Frequently Asked Questions

– Resources to Determine Economical N Rate

Requirements

•Raise corn in 2026

•Be willing to reduce nitrogen application by at least 20 lbs N/ acre*

•Farm in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska or southeastern South Dakota

•Acres must be conventionally managed; certified organic acres are not eligible

•Acres cannot overlap with any privately funded cost-share program, such as a carbon market (ex. Indigo, SWOF, TruCarbon, PivotBio’s N-OVATOR, etc.)

•Acres must be already insured with Multi-Peril Crop Insurance Revenue or Yield Protection policy

*Farmers applying lower nitrogen rates may still be eligible with their already reduced nitrogen rate or a smaller reduction in nitrogen. PFI agronomists have some discretion with lower initial rates and can talk through reduced nitrogen rates with you during your initial consultation.

Program Steps

1. Have fields eligible for the program in 2026

See program eligibility guidelines to ensure your practices fit the program requirements.

2. Enroll in the program by April 30, 2026

3. Talk to a PFI agronomist to discuss your nitrogen plan

4. Sign an agreement and FSA release of information

Even after signing a program agreement, a participant may still drop their enrollment without penalty. Participant must sign a release of information that allows PFI to contact their county FSA office(s) for PFI to collect documentation (producer subsidiary print, 578s, and tract maps of the anticipated reduced N fields) on the participants’ behalf. PFI will collect these documents to verify compliance with highly erodible land and wetland restrictions, and that corn was planted on enrolled acres.

5. Apply less total nitrogen to enrolled fields

6. Attend a soil health learning event (connect with other farmers!) with PFI or another organization

*Note: If attending an event in person isn’t feasible, then viewing a recording of an event is satisfactory. See PFI’s YouTube channel for virtual options available.

7. Receive complimentary one-year membership to Practical Farmers of Iowa. Learn more about membership benefits on our website. If you’d like family members to be included on your membership, please ensure their names are listed on your application.

8. Confirm applied nitrogen rate with PFI agronomist and file yield loss claim (if applicable)

Submit a brief wrap-up survey with program feedback and a field level questionnaire, no later than December 10, 2026.

9. Payments will be processed after all relevant paperwork is received and confirmed. All payments will be processed by April 30, 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this N rate program a cost-share?

A: **New this year** PFI is offering $5 per enrolled acre with reduced nitrogen rates. Mainly, this program is a warranty-based program. If your yield drops below 95% of your ten-year average production history, when reducing your typical nitrogen application, PFI will pay an additional $30 per acre to help cover any loss.

Q: How do you calculate my yield average?

A: We will use your crop insurance records to determine your 2026 yield and your non-adjusted actual production history (APH). If you do not have 10 years of cropping history, we will use county averages for your benchmark yield.

Q: Why reduce N rates?

A: Reducing nitrogen rates can save you money! Less wasted excess N applied to your fields, means less wasted cost for yourself. Use this program to explore your own economical nitrogen rate for your fields. Plus, reducing N rates can have tremendous benefits for water quality and reductions in GHG emissions.

Q: How much N do I need to reduce?

A: On average, farmers will need to reduce nitrogen applications by approximately 20 lbs. N per acre from their typical application. Farmers that are already applying low rates of nitrogen may still be eligible to participate in the program with a smaller reduction in nitrogen. If you have recently reduced your nitrogen in the last five years and are still unsure if it is the right rate for your farm, you may be eligible to enroll at your current reduced rate.

Q: What N is counted in my “typical application”?

A: Any nitrogen applied via synthetic fertilizer sources or through manure is counted in your application rates. If you do not have a manure analysis, we will use book values from Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota to estimate your applied nitrogen. Biological products or legume credits are not calculated into your typical applied nitrogen rate.

Q: I don’t purchase federal crop insurance, what coverage do I need for this program?

A: The N Rate Risk Protection program is not supposed to replace crop insurance. Participants must maintain and carry a Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MCPI) Revenue or Yield Protection policy at a minimum of 65% coverage to be eligible for this program. In addition, you must certify your crops through your local FSA office.

*Note: If a claim is paid for yield loss due to an event (such as hail, wind, or flooding) other than nitrogen reduction through your insurance, PFI’s $30 per acre warranty payment will be void.

Q: Will a payment from my Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) or Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) void my warranty claim with PFI?

A: As both SCO and ECO are county-based coverage options for extending coverage beyond 85%, these options do not impact warranty eligibility.Q: What if I change my mind mid-season about nitrogen needs for my corn?

A: The contract covering your enrolled acres is non-binding for the participant, meaning you can end enrollment of some or all fields in the program at any time before receiving payment without penalty. The weather has large effects on nitrogen crop needs. If you determine it is in your best interest to apply more nitrogen than recorded in your reduced plan, simply let us know what fields need to be disenrolled.

Q: What if I want to change the form of nitrogen I apply to my corn, or when, from what I planned?

A: The form of nitrogen applied and the number of passes of nitrogen applications can change without affecting your eligibility status, as long as the total lbs. of nitrogen applied is similar, or lower, than the reduced rate in your reduction plan. Please let us know of any changes so we can update your plan.

Resources for determining an economical nitrogen rate

PFI Research on N Rates to Corn 

Nitrogen Basics

Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator (a collaboration from several Upper Midwest Universities)
Updated Version for Iowa (N-FACT)

Estimating Nutrient Content of Manure

N-P-K Calculator for Fertilizers

University-Provided Economically Optimal N Rate Resources

Nitrogen Contributions from Legumes in Extended Rotations – Presentation by Matt Liebman at PFI Conference

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