The North Central U.S. harvests over 66 million ha of corn, wheat, soybean, and grain sorghum annually as grain or silage.  Enhanced efficiency fertilizer use in this region may help increase economic returns and reduce negative environmental risks.  The goal of an enhanced efficiency fertilizer is to reduce fertilizer loss through processes such as immobilization, denitrification, volatilization, and leaching while increasing crop output.  This may be accomplished by adjusting application timing, using slow- and controlled-release fertilizers, or utilizing nitrification and urease inhibitors.  Recent research on slow- and controlled-release fertilizers in the region will be presented.  Crop responses in this region have been dependent on weather and application timing.  Poorly drained soils and soils with leaching potential may benefit greatest from enhanced efficiency fertilizers.  Crop production systems, individual management decisions, and economic returns will affect the utility of enhanced efficiency fertilizers in the North Central U.S.