Technical Abstract: Strip tillage (ST) implements typically band fertilizer below the seed; however, for sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) placement either too close or too far away from the seed may be detrimental. A field study was conducted at Sidney, MT to determine (1) the optimum depth of the fertilizer band for fall ST and (2) if the optimum band depth is affected by N fertilizer application rate. Strip tillage was performed in the fall using a shank-type implement that tills 30-cm wide strips spaced 60 cm apart in small grain residue. Nitrogen and P fertilizers were banded below the seed at depths of 2.5, 7.5, or 12.5 cm from the soil surface. Nitrogen was applied as dry urea [(NH2)2CO] at 78, 146, or 212 kg N ha-1. Plant population tended to be lowest when fertilizer was placed at 2.5 cm. In 2008 plant population was 7 to 13% less when placed at 2.5 or 7.5 cm compared to the 12.5-cm depth. Nitrogen content of above-ground biomass (AGBM) was greatest with the 7.5-cm depth. Plant population was consistently lower when N was applied at 212 kg N ha-1 resulting in a harvest population that was 7% less than when N was applied at 78 or 146 kg ha-1. Increasing N application rate led to increased N uptake, reduced root sucrose content and increased root yield. Optimum band depth did not depend on N application rate. It was concluded that fertilizer band placement between 7.5 and 12.5 cm deep (5 to 10 cm below the seed) resulted in the best combination of N uptake and seedling emergence. Caution is warranted when banding N at rates greater than 146 kg N ha-1, especially where conditions maximize the risk of fertilizer injury (e.g., dry climate, sandy textured soil, spring ST).