NutraBoss Y-Drops are the original patented lightweight Y-drop system designed to place nitrogen precisely in the root zone without splash, bounce, or unnecessary wear. At just 9 lbs. per unit (including the mounting bracket) and built from stainless steel and double-cotton-braided rubber hose components, NutraBoss delivers consistent nutrient placement, long-term durability, and field-serviceable simplicity.
Our Y-Drops are engineered with purpose — every angle, material, and connection point is designed to reduce nitrogen loss, stay centered at speed, and hold up in the field. Get as close to the row as you can get without burning out your crop, or wasting your valuable nutrients.
We've also constructed NutraBoss Y-Drops with minimal wear parts and no proprietary hardware, making maintenance and repairs a breeze. Most repairs can be handled with basic stainless steel clamps, standard hoses, and common fittings already found in your shop. You won't need a specialized catalog — just a trip to your own workbench or the local hardware store.
The mess left by conventional drag hoses and competitor Y-drops equates to wasted nitrogen and ROI. Most Y-drop systems use a vertical design that hangs straight down, but at field speeds that design works against itself. When a vertical drop clips a corn stalk, it behaves like a pendulum, whipping and bouncing out of control. The result is splash, leaf contact, volatilization loss, and inconsistent placement.
NutraBoss takes a different approach. Our patented trailing-angle design is engineered to work with gravity and motion, not against them — keeping the drop stable, centered, and consistently placed at speed.
Vertical Y-drops are rigid and top-heavy. When they hit a stalk at 10 mph, the impact causes the hose to whip or dance, flinging nitrogen onto leaves and into the middle of the row — away from the root zone.
NutraBoss Y-Drops are designed to trail at an angle, using the the weight of the drop to keep it low and centered — exactly where it needs to be. If the drag hose brushes a stalk, it doesn’t whip — it gently deflects, glides past, and naturally returns to center.
The drop stays pinned in the row by drag itself, not by force.
Every bump in the field transfers energy into a rigid vertical system, causing bounce and vibration, as well tension on the equipment. That bounce creates a dotted nitrogen pattern and throws product into the air, increasing product waste.
By keeping the weight low and trailing, the NutraBoss design stabilizes the drag hoses in the V of the row. Instead of splashing, the hose delivers a consistent, concentrated stream — forming a clean, continuous line exactly where it’s needed: as close to the row as you can get without burning out your crop, or wasting your valuable nutrients.
Pushing a vertical stake through tall crops causes constant resistance and kick-out. Dragging a broom behind you does the opposite — it follows the path of least resistance.
NutraBoss works the same way. As the sprayer moves forward, crop friction and airflow pull the angled drop backward, creating a self-centering “rudder” effect. The unit naturally settles into the “V” at the base of the plant and stays there, without heavy springs, tensioners, or complex mounts.
Because the drop is pulled — not pushed — the system is inherently more stable at higher speeds. Operators can run 10–12 mph without the chatter, row-jumping, or plant damage common with vertical designs. When the drop encounters a tight turn or misaligned stalk, it lifts and slides back into position instead of punching through resistance.
The result: no spray, no splash — just a clean, consistent line of nitrogen, pass after pass.
Boom-to-ground, NutraBoss Y-Drops are the lightest Y-drops available on the market today — weighing just 9 pounds per unit (including the mounting bracket). That low weight isn’t about cutting corners, it’s about control. Excess weight on the boom increases vibration, bounce, and long-term wear. By engineering the system to be lightweight, balanced and to work with gravity, NutraBoss improves stability, reduces stress on the sprayer, and maintains accurate placement at field speeds.
Every material choice in the NutraBoss system is intentional, selected to maximize durability without adding unnecessary mass and future maintenance headaches.
Heavier drop systems amplify movement and stress booms. Every bump, turn, and speed change transfers energy into the drop, increasing bounce and inconsistency. Lighter units respond faster, stay planted, move with the boom instead of fighting it, and can be equipped on the full length of the boom.
At just 9 lbs per unit, NutraBoss reduces:
Boom fatigue and vibration
Chatter at higher operating speeds
Stress on mounting points and hardware
The result is smoother operation and more consistent nitrogen placement through every row.
Early versions of NutraBoss Y-Drops used powder-coated steel, but real-world use proved that coatings eventually fail. We made the early switch to stainless steel construction to eliminate corrosion and extend product life.
Stainless steel delivers:
Long-term resistance to rust and chemical exposure
Structural strength without excessive weight
Consistent performance across thousands of acres
NutraBoss Y-Drops incorporate flexible, double-cotton-braided rubber hoses into the drop stick, as well as at the y-tips (drag hoses).
The drop stick hoses reduce the overall weight of the unit, as well as allow flexibility and fast correction while being dragged through crop rows, eliminating bounce and nitrogen waste.
Both the stick and the drag hoses are designed to be extremely durable while remaining light and flexible enough to glide through the crop, with the drag hoses being the only wear component by design — they’re built to last, but also easy to replace without having to wait for proprietary parts.
Field-proven performance shows our drag hoses exceeding 25,000 acres of use, and when replacement is eventually needed, it’s quick and straightforward. There’s no need to replace entire assemblies or contact the dealer — just head to the shop or your local hardware store.
By combining lightweight construction with stainless steel components and long-life hoses, NutraBoss creates a system that delivers both performance and longevity.
Less weight. Less wear. More acres.
NutraBoss Y-Drops attach to the boom using a single-point swivel mount, allowing each unit to self-correct quickly as terrain and conditions change through the field. If the drop encounters an obstruction or shifts slightly out of alignment, the swivel allows it to deflect and return smoothly to its natural operating position — without binding, forcing, or added stress on the boom.
Every bracket and mounting component is hand TIG welded, ensuring strength, consistency, and long-term durability in high-vibration field conditions. The result is a clean, secure mounting system that’s easy to install, easy to service, and built to hold its alignment season after season.
The S-curve built into the NutraBoss Y-drop is engineered to take abuse and maintain control. The upper bend of the S acts as a built-in bumper, absorbing contact from stalks and field irregularities while angling inward to protect the drag hose connection from direct impact.
The lower portion of the S sets the correct exit angle for the drag hoses, keeping them pointed at the row instead of wandering. By positioning the hose connection to create a longer length of drag hose, the design allows the hose to wiggle and flex naturally while the ends stay planted exactly where placement is required.
NutraBoss drag hose skids are designed to shield the hose-to-Y connection, preventing it from contacting the ground during operation. By carrying the load and absorbing contact with soil and residue, the skid protects one of the most critical stress points in the system.
Instead of allowing the hose connection to drag or catch, the skid takes the abuse—reducing wear, preventing damage, and extending the life of both the hose and the fitting. It’s another small, intentional design detail that keeps the system running smoothly across thousands of acres.
Critical load points on NutraBoss Y-Drops are hand TIG welded to ensure strength, consistency, and long-term durability in demanding field conditions. These welds are located at the mounting bracket, the swivel component, the junction of the Y, and the drag hose ski— areas that see the most movement, vibration, and impact during operation.
TIG welding allows for precise heat control and clean, strong welds that hold alignment under stress. It’s a deliberate choice that reinforces the system’s structural integrity and reflects the level of craftsmanship built into every NutraBoss unit.
NutraBoss mounting brackets incorporate built-in hanging points that allow drops to be secured during transport, keeping hoses off the ground and out of harm’s way. This prevents unnecessary wear, snagging, and damage when moving between fields or traveling at road speeds.
The brackets are engineered to hold each drop with light resistance, ensuring units can’t bounce or jump out while in motion. It’s a simple, intentional detail that protects the system, extends hose life, and eliminates one more thing operators have to worry about when moving from field to field.
Every NutraBoss Y-Drop system includes storage brackets, designed to keep your valuable equipment off the ground and straight when not in use. By properly supporting the units, the brackets prevent hose kinks, unnecessary wear, and damage that can occur when equipment is left resting on the shop floor.
It’s a small detail with long-term benefits — faster setup, extended hose life, and overall protection for your investment..
The ShortBoss Y-Drop configuration is available for machines and setups where reduced overall drop length is preferred. It provides the same trailing-angle placement principles and durable construction as the standard NutraBoss Y-Drop, but in a more compact form factor for tighter boom heights and specialty applications.
This option is built to order and matched to your equipment, ensuring proper alignment and performance while accommodating clearance and mounting constraints.
BugBoss is a precision attachment designed for fungicide and insecticide applications and can be easily added to existing NutraBoss Y-Drops. It incorporates nozzles that can be rotated to spray downward as well as upward and installation is easy — mount the plate with two U-bolts and route the single hose through the stick to your boom nozzle connection for clean, controlled delivery.
BugBoss systems can cover the full boom width and are versatile enough to operate across a wide range of corn heights. BugBoss is also available as a standalone system that pins to compatible brackets, and custom brackets can be built when needed to match your specific machine.
The optional RowBoss add-on is designed to protect drag hoses on short setups or when the boom runs lower than intended, whether from uneven terrain or momentary height changes. By adding a small amount of controlled weight, the Row Guide helps stabilize the drop while preventing excessive wear on the upper portion of the hose.
Constructed from stainless steel and attached with a single bolt, the Row Guide is simple, durable, and easy to install. It keeps hoses off the ground so that — even at a low operating angle — only the applicator tips make contact, while the drop maintains proper alignment at normal ride height.
The optional DropBoss Extension installs between the main mounting bracket and the Y-drop to provide additional vertical reach when more depth is needed. It’s semi-rigid, with a spring-loaded link, giving the drop controlled flexibility without sacrificing stability in tall rows.
The extension can rotate a full 360 degrees and locks at 90-degree positions for transport and positioning, making it easy to secure when moving between fields. It’s a simple add-on that adds adjustability while maintaining proper alignment and durability in the field.
Hoses are intentionally the primary wear component — and they’re easy to replace. You don’t have to swap entire assemblies or expensive subcomponents to stay running.
When something takes a hit, you don’t have to pull out of the field and wait days for parts. NutraBoss is designed so minor issues can be handled right there in the turn row.
Our systems are built using standard, off-the-shelf components — not custom-molded plastics or dealer-only hardware — so repairs never hinge on special orders or long lead times.
Most fixes can be handled with basic hand tools already in your shop or service truck. No specialized equipment. No special training. Just straightforward mechanical work.
Nitrogen timing is critical. By eliminating dependency on proprietary parts and shipments, NutraBoss helps keep machines moving when every hour matters.
Your “spare parts” are often already in your shop or at the local hardware store. That means fewer delays, lower maintenance costs, and control that stays with the operator — not the catalog.
NutraBoss Y-Drop systems are custom manufactured to match the exact configuration of your sprayer, ensuring proper fit, clean installation, and reliable operation in the field. Boom size, nozzle spacing, plumbing layout, mounting dimensions, and operating height are all accounted for before a system is built.
NutraBoss systems are commonly installed on a wide range of machines, including:
John Deere
Case IH
Hagie
Rogator
Apache
New Holland
Pull-types, coulter carts, and specialty sprayers
Because every setup is built to order, the system integrates cleanly with your existing boom rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution. The result is consistent performance, proper hose alignment, and long-term durability across the full boom width.
If it’s running in the field, chances are we’ve already built a NutraBoss system to fit it — and if not, our team has the experience and flexibility to engineer a custom solution that works the way it should.
NutraBoss systems are backed by support from the same team that designs and builds the product. If questions come up during installation or in the field, you’re talking directly with our staff in Blue Earth, Minnesota, who know the equipment inside and out — not a call center reading from a script.
We understand how critical timing is during nitrogen season, which is why our support is built around responsiveness and practical solutions that keep you running when it matters most.
What you can expect from NutraBoss support:
Direct access to knowledgeable, experienced support staff
Help with setup, installation, and field adjustments
Fast response during in-season application windows
Support focused on keeping you moving, not selling replacement parts
