This project funds a three-year statewide study to determine optimum spring nitrogen rates for malting barley using plant tissue analysis. Agronomic research will determine appropriate nitrogen fertilization for malting barley, this has not been done in the North Carolina or the southeast. With price per bushel of malting barley being three to four times that of feed barley, changing nitrogen management to obtain high quality barley will increase farm profitability and provide farmers with a high value winter crop