diff --git a/modflow_devtools/dfn/schema/field.py b/modflow_devtools/dfn/schema/field.py
index 1eeef3c7..4730f48f 100644
--- a/modflow_devtools/dfn/schema/field.py
+++ b/modflow_devtools/dfn/schema/field.py
@@ -18,3 +18,4 @@ class Field:
     developmode: bool = False
     shape: str | None = None
     valid: tuple[str, ...] | None = None
+    netcdf: bool = False
diff --git a/modflow_devtools/dfn/schema/v1.py b/modflow_devtools/dfn/schema/v1.py
index 803cf584..78be8b99 100644
--- a/modflow_devtools/dfn/schema/v1.py
+++ b/modflow_devtools/dfn/schema/v1.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class FieldV1(Field):
     deprecated: bool = False
     removed: bool = False
     mf6internal: str | None = None
-    netcdf: str | None = None
+    netcdf: bool = False
     block_variable: bool = False
     just_data: bool = False