With volatile crop and nitrogen prices, greater environmental concerns and awareness, and increasing efforts to minimize risk, farmers are searching for information to establish an effective and profitable N management game plan. However, the N management game plan is not simple. It becomes complex as various uncontrollable soil and weather factors are involved as well as the controllable factors of N rate, time and method of application, N source, nitrification inhibitors, etc. Best management practices (BMPs) for N are broadly defined as economically sound, voluntary practices that are capable of optimizing profitability, minimizing the loss of nitrate to surface and ground water, and reducing risk. In Minnesota, BMPs have been identified for various areas of the state depending on climate, soil, and geologic features. Management practices are placed into three categories: