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Liquid fertilizer, knife / sidedress: custom rates by state
Knifing in or side-dressing liquid N (incl. drop nozzles/coulters). Fertilizer not included. Rates are per acre.
Survey averages, not quotes. These are averages of what people reported in extension surveys. Use them as a starting point for a conversation, not as a price. Survey years differ (2024, 2025, 2026); values are not adjusted for inflation or diesel prices.
| State · survey wording | Average | Range | Responses | Median / mode | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa 2026 Liquid - side dressing |
$14.10/acre | $9.00 – $20.00 | 38 | median $14.50 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Iowa 2026 Liquid - high clearance, drop hose, Y spray nozzle |
$13.25/acre | $8.00 – $20.00 | 26 | median $13.75 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Ohio 2026 Late Season Nitrogen Application with Coulters |
$14.64/acre | $10.00 – $20.00 | 7 | median $13.00 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Ohio 2026 Late Season Nitrogen Application with Drops |
$14.40/acre | $9.75 – $20.00 | 17 | median $14.50 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Ohio 2026 Liquid, Knife |
$14.32/acre | $6.00 – $25.00 | 24 | median $13.50 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Indiana 2025 Knifing-In Liquid Fertilizer |
$14.58/acre | not published | 17 | — | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Wisconsin 2025 Fertilizer application - Liquid - Side-Dressing with Drop Nozzles check ⚠ Table 4 in the source is labeled “2024” while every other table says 2025. Probably a typo; data kept with the 2025 survey. |
$15.88/acre | $11.25 – $30.00 | 10 | median $15.00 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| North Dakota 2024 Liquid Fertilizer - Side-Dressing |
$11.25/acre | $5.00 – $22.00 | 6 | — | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
Minnesota and Illinois: no state survey, so they are not listed or counted separately. Iowa’s 2026 rate above is often used as a reference there.
Bar: shaded = published range, dark tick = average (scaled to the highest value on this page). “Few responses” = fewer than 5.
What’s included and how ranges differ
- Indiana: Where shown, the range is the average ± one standard deviation (only published when 30+ responses).
- Iowa: Range excludes the single lowest and single highest response.
- North Dakota: Range is the minimum and maximum reported. “Most frequent” (mode) also shown.
- Ohio: Range is the minimum and maximum reported.
- Wisconsin: Range is the lowest and highest reported.
All included surveys say their rates cover fuel and the operator unless otherwise noted; rental items exclude them.
Notes from the surveys
- Iowa – Liquid - side dressing: Materials not included
- Iowa – Liquid - high clearance, drop hose, Y spray nozzle: Materials not included