It is important to continue developing new management practices that reduce N losses and optimize N use in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. Pre-plant N applications for potatoes, especially those under irrigated soils, tend to have lower nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). To reduce N leakage during early stages of plant growth and to increase NUE, a study was conducted at the San Luis Valley Research Center, Colorado, to evaluate the effect of pre-plant N application rates on tuber yield, quality, and agronomic N use efficiency (AE_N) of a newly released potato cultivar Canela Russet. Treatments included four pre-plant N rates; 0, 67, 90, and 112 kg N ha^-1. The remaining N after pre-plant application was applied in three split applications during the growing season. Total N rate was 157 kg N ha^-1. Optimum pre-plant N rate for maximum total yield, marketable tuber yield, and best tuber quality for Canela Russet was 90 kg N ha^-1. This is evidenced by the increased AE_N at the 90 kg N ha^-1 pre-plant rate, which was compared to the 67 and 112 kg N ha^-1 pre-plant rates. A high AE_N indicates that most of the N applied was used in crop production with a lower potential of N lost to the environment, while a lower AE_N suggests a higher probability that N will be lost to the environment. Total yield and quality were lower for the 112 kg N ha^-1 fertilizer rate application at planting with 45 kg N ha^-1 applied during the growing season. The best combination was 90 kg N ha^-1 at planting with 67 kg N ha^-1 applied during the growing season. The results also show the potential negative N environmental impact from over-application of N fertilizer at planting, since N rates over 90 kg N ha^-1 had much lower AE_N.