For several reasons, popularity of banded fertilizer at time of planting is increasing in the northern Corn Belt. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of application of three fluid fertilizers applied at two rates at three positions close to the seed. Rates of application varied with the fluid material used and the crop grown. For corn, two contrasting soil textures (silty clay loam, loamy fine sand). For soybean and sugar beet, the texture was a silty clay loam. Corn emergence was significantly affected by material and placement when texture was a loamy fine sand, but not a silty clay loam. Soybean emergence was significantly affected by rate of application and placement. Emergence of sugar beet was not significantly affected by any of the factors studied (rate, material,placement. Corn yield was related to emergence. Soybean yield was not negatively affected by reduced emergence. Sugar yield was not affected by the factors studied. The data lead to the conclusion that attention should be given to the rate of nitrogen rather that the total of nitrogen and potash applied in the band.