2008 Nebraska State FFA,

Agronomy Career Development Event

Click here to download MS Word document Return to UNL CDE Website

PURPOSE: To create interest and promote understanding in agronomy by providing opportunities for recognition through the demonstration of knowledge, skills, and proficiencies.

OBJECTIVES

1. To demonstrate basic knowledge in agronomic sciences.

2. To explore career opportunites, skills, and proficiencies in the agronomy industry.

3. To determine the ability to identify agronomic:

Crops and Seeds

Weeds

Insects

Diseases

Soil Conditions

Plant Nutrient Deficiencies

Plant Disorders

Common Machinery

EVENT RULES

1. Team make-up: Team size shall be four members. All four members will be scored , and all 4 scores shall count towards the team total. All four members are eligible for individual awards.

2. Written Material: All written materials will be furnished for the event. No written materials shall be removed from the site.

3. Contestants will answer all questions on standard multiple choice bubble cards using a No. 2 Pencil. Each participant must have two sharpened No. 2 pencils, and an electronic calculator.

4.   All contestants will participate in the identification of crop and weed plants and seeds, insects, plant diseases, farm machinery, and soil properties.

5.   Recognition will be given to individual participants with the top total scores over all categories. 

6.   Ribbons will be awarded following the same scoring criteria as in previous years.

7. Tiebreakers

Team Total Score

A. Team Activity Score

B. Highest Individual Score

C. 2nd Highest Individual Score, etc.

Individual Activity Score

A. Team Activity Score

B. Team Total Score

EVENT FORMAT (Revised 2007)

Individual Activity

Contest Topics

1. Crop Plant and Seed Identification

a. Identification of crop plants and/or seeds. Plants may be in any stage following emergence. Samples will be identified on a multiple choice basis.

b. Specimens will be identified by common and/or scientific name, and by their life cycle. Specimens may also have questions concerning their uses or associated common production issues.

c. A list of possible specimens is included below.

2. Weed Plant & Seed Identification

a. Identification of weed plants and/or seeds. Plants may be in any stage following emergence. Samples will be identified on a multiple choice basis.

b. Specimens will be identified by common and/or scientific name, and by their life cycle. Specimens may also have questions concerning their control or associated crop production issues.

c. A list of possible specimens is included below.

3. Insect Identification

a. Identification of insect specimens by common name, scientific name, and their life cycle. Species will be identified on a multiple choice basis.

b. Questions related to the insects economic impact and/or management (control) may also be included.

c. A list of possible specimens is included below.

4. Plant Diseases and Disorders

a. Contestants will be asked to identify common plant diseases, condtions, or disorders. Examples will be identified on a multiple choice basis.

b. Additional questions may cover the disease/condition cause, what plant parts are damaged, and its’ economic impact or control.

c. A list of possible Disorders/Conditions is included below.

5. Soils and their Management

a. Identify various soil properties (texture, structure, organic matter, etc.) and their impact on soil function and management.

b. Identify the USDA land capability classes and answer questions related to the various classes.

c. Analyze common soil problems, soil fertility, and soil nutrient management in agricultural settings.

d. Questions will be created from information contained in the document linked below:

SOIL and WATER RESOURCES

http://agronomy.unl.edu/ffa/sol&wat.htm

6. Machinery

a. Identify Machinery commonly used in Agronomic Production in Nebraska.

b. Describe uses and applications of common machines.

c. A list of possible machinery is included at the end of this document.

Team Activity

Each team will be given a field scenario requiring application of basic agronomic principles and practices.

Teams will be supplied with necessary Neb Guides, data, and relevant information to answer ten to twenty multiple choice questions related to the scenario.

Topic areas for the Team Activity will rotate on a yearly basis through the following:

(2007), Rangeland and Forage Production

(2008), Alternative Crops (e.g. Dry Beans, Potato, Sugar Beet, Oilseeds, etc.)

(2009), Corn-Soybean Cropping Systems

(2010), Wheat and Small Grains

Specimen Lists

1. Agronomy Crops

ID #	Name	Form	Botanical Name	ID #	Crop	Form	Botanical Name
200	Alfalfa	plant/ seed	Medicago sativa	227	Potato	plant only	Solanum tuberosum
201	Barley	plant/ seed	Hordeum vulgare	228	Red bean	seed only	Phaseolus vulgaris
202	Bean (dry)	plant only	Phaseolus vulgaris	229	Red clover	plant/ seed	Trifolium pratense
203	Kidney bean, light red	seed only		230	Red wheat	seed only	Triticum avestivum
204	Great Northern bean	seed only		232	Rye	plant/ seed	Secale cereale
205	Canola	plant/ seed	Brassica napus	233	Safflower	plant/ seed	Carthamus tinctorius
209	Corn	plant only	Zea mays	234	Sorghum	plant/ seed	Sorghum bicolor
210	Cotton	plant/ seed	Gossypium hirsutum	235	Soybeans	plant/ seed	Glycine max
213	Dent corn	seed only	Zea mays	236	Sweet Corn	Plant only	Zea mays
214	Durhum wheat	seed only	Triticum turgidum	239	Sudangrass	plant/ seed	Sorghum bicolor
215	Flax	plant only	Linum usitatissimum	240	Sugar beets	plant/ seed	Beta vulgaris
217	Kentucky bluegrass	plant/ seed	Poa pratensis	242	Sunflower	plant/ seed	Helianthus annuus
220	Oats	plant/ seed	Avena sativa	244	Sweetclover	plant/ seed	Melilotus albus
221	Onion	plant/ seed	Allium cepa	245	Tall fescue	plant/ seed	Festuca arundinacea
222	Orchardgrass	plant/ seed	Dactylis glomerata	246	Timothy	plant/ seed	Phleum pratense
224	Peas	plant/ seed	Pisum Sativum	250	Wheat	plant only	Triticum aestivum
225	Pinto beans	seed only	Phaseolus vulgaris	251	White clover	plant/ seed	Trifolium repens
226	Popcorn	seed only	Zea mays	252	White wheat	seed only	Triticum avestivum

Web Resources for Agronomy Crops & Seeds

Iowa State University Image Gallery: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegallery/

University of Nebraska http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/fieldcrops/

Colorado State University http://www.cerc.colostate.edu/

Kansas State University http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/

Iowa State University http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pubs/

Agriculture Network Information Center http://www.agnic.org/

2. Agronomy Weeds

ID#	Common Name	Form	Botanical Name	ID#	Common Name	Form	Botanical Name
100	barnyardgrass	plant/ seed	Echinochloa crus-galli	130	horsenettle*	plant/ seed	Solanum carolinense
101	black nightshade	plant/ seed	Solanum nigrum	131	jimsonweed	plant/ seed	Datura stramonium
102	broadleaf plantain	plant/ seed	plantago major	132	Johnsongrass*	plant/ seed	Sorghum halpense
103	buckhorn plantain	plant/ seed	plantago lanceolata		Knapweed	plant
104	bull thistle*	plant/ seed	Cirsium vulgare	133	kochia	plant/ seed	Kochia scoparia
105	Canada thistle*	plant/ seed	Cirsium arvense	134	leafy spurge*	plant/ seed	Euphorbia esula
106	cheat	plant/ seed	Bromus secalinus	135	morningglory	plant/ seed	Ipomoea spp.
108	common chickweed	plant/ seed	Stellaria media	137	nutsedge*	plant/ seed	as Nutlet Cyperus spp.
109	common cocklebur	plant/ seed	as bur Xanthium strumarium		Plumeless Thistle	plant
110	common lambsquarters	plant/ seed	Chenopodium album	138	prickly lettuce	plant/ seed	Lactuca serriola
111	common mallow	plant/ seed	Malva neglecta	139	prostrate knotweed	plant/ seed	Polygonum aviculare
112	common milkweed	plant/ seed	Asclepias syriaca	141	puncturevine*	plant/ seed	Tribulus terrestris
113	common mullein	plant/ seed	Verbascum thapsus		Purple Loosestrife	plant
114	common purslane	plant/ seed	Portulaca oleracea	143	redroot pigweed	plant/ seed	Amaranthus retroflexus
115	common ragweed	plant/ seed	Ambrosia artemisiifolia	144	Russian thistle	plant/ seed	Salsola pestifer
116	common sunflower	plant/ seed	Helianthus annuus	145	Shepards Purse	plant/ seed	Capsella bursa-pastoris
117	crabgrass	plant/ seed	Digitaria spp.	146	smartweed	plant/ seed	Polygonum spp.
118	crown vetch	plant/ seed	Coronilla varia	147	sowthistle*	plant/ seed	Sonchus spp.
119	curly dock	plant/ seed	Rumex crispus		Tamarix (Salt Cedar)	plant
120	dandelion	plant/ seed	Taraxacum officinale	148	tansy mustard	plant/ seed	Descurainia pinnata
121	field bindweed*	plant/ seed	Convolvulus arvensis	149	velvetleaf	plant/ seed	Abutilon theophrasti
123	field pennycress	plant/ seed	Thlaspi arvense	150	wild carrot	plant/ seed	Daucus carota
124	field sandbur	plant/ seed	Cenchrus incertus	151	wild mustard	plant/ seed	Brassica kaber
125	foxtail, giant	plant/ seed	Setaria faberi	152	wild oats	plant only	Avena sativa
128	giant ragweed	plant/ seed	Ambrosia trifidia	153	wild onion/garlic	plant/ seed	Allium spp.
129	ground cherry	plant/ seed	Physalis spp.	154	wooly cupgrass	plant/ seed	Eriochloa gracilis

Web Resources: Agronomy Weeds

Iowa State University Image Gallery:

http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegallery/

University of Nebraska www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/weeds/

Virginia Tech university – Weed Identification Guide http://www.ppws.vt.edu/weedindex.htm

Iowa State University – Weed ID online

http://www.weeds.iastate.edu/weed-id/weedid.htm

Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) photo herbarium

http://www.wssa.net/subpages/weed/herbarium0.html

Rutgers University – Agricultural Weed Gallery

http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/weeds/index.html

Michigan State University – Common Weed Seedlings of Michigan

http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/iac/e1363/e1363.htm

Book:

Weeds of Nebraska and The Great Plains

Published by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture

– available at most University of Nebraska county extension offices and many agricultural education instructors.

3. Agronomy Insects

ID#	Common Name	ID#	Common Name	ID#	Possible Life Cycles for Insects
300	alfalfa weevil	319	Japanese beetle	001	Complete
301	aphides	320	lady beetle larva	002	Incomplete
302	armyworm larva	321	leaf skeletonizer	003	None
303	assassin bug	322	leafhopper
304	bean leaf beetle	323	lygus
305	blister beetle	324	Mexican bean beetle
306	boll weevil	325	pink bollworm larva	ID#	Economic Impacts
307	chinch bug	326	salt marsh caterpillar /wooly worm	050	None or Predatory
308	Colorado potato beetle	327	scale	051	Destruction of Fruit/Flower
309	corn ear worm larva	328	spider mite	052	Destruction of Vegetative Parts (roots & leaves)
310	corn rootworm larva	329	spittlebug	053	Destruction by Removal of Plant Fluids
311	cricket	330	spotted cucumber beetle/Southern corn rootworm beetle
312	cutworm larva	331	stinkbug
313	European corn borer larva	332	tobacco/tomato hornworm larva
314	flea beetle	333	Western corn rootworm beetle
315	grain weevil	334	western flower thrip
316	grasshopper	335	white grub
317	green lacewing	336	whitefly
318	honeybee	337	wireworm

Web Resources: Agronomy Insects

University of Nebraska IANR: http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/insects/

Iowa State University: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegallery/

4. Plant Diseases and Disorders

Name	Cause	Damage
N deficiency	nutritional	vegetative
P deficiency	nutritional	vegetative/ fruit
K deficiency	nutritional	vegetative
powdery mildew	fungi	vegetative
smut	fungi	vegetative
root rot	fungi	vegetative
ergot	fungi	fruit
stalk rots (gibberella and charcoal)	fungi	vegetative
rusts	fungi	vegetative
galls	fungi/ nematodes	vegetative
cankers	fungi	blockage of vascular bundles
blight	fungi	vegetative
frost	cultural	vegetative/ fruit
wind damage	cultural	vegetative
drought	cultural	vegetative
hail	cultural	vegetative
herbicide	mechanical	vegetative
wilts (fusiarium, verticullum)	fungi	blockage of vascular bundles
mosaics (TMV)	virus	vegetative
scab	fungi or bateria	fruit or flower
Fe Chlorosis	nutritional	vegetative
scale
mold	fungi	fruit or flower

Web Resources: Plant Diseases and Disorders

Download PowerPoint Slides from UNL Extension Educator

On topics of FFA contest resources and references

Plant Disease Resource Presentation (PowerPoint 97) – (Note: large file size ~ 17 Mb)

University of Nebraska – Publications Index

See sections on ‘Field crops’ and ‘Plant Diseases’

NU IANR Publications Index – Nebguides

Iowa State University

This site has photos and info on many of the specimens listed.

Image Gallery of Plant Pathology

Iowa State University Image Gallery: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegallery/

5. Machinery Identification and Applications

ID#	Name	ID#	Name
600	Air line	630	Manure Spreader (dry)
601	Anemometer	631	Module Builder
602	Backpack Sprayer	632	Mower
603	Bale Wagon	633	Mulcher
604	Baler	634	Nozzle Bodies (Flood vs. Flat Fan)
605	Bean head (for Combine)	635	Pea harvester
606	Bed Shaper	636	Peanut Digger (Sp)
607	Broadcaster	637	Planter
608	Center Pivot	638	Plow
609	Chemigation Unit	639	Potato Digger
610	Combine	640	PPE (All equipment)
611	Conveyor/elevator	641	Press Wheel
612	Corn head (for combine)	642	Pressure Gauge
613	Cotton Picker	643	PTO shaft
614	Cotton Stripper	644	Rake (Hay Rake)
615	Cultivator	645	Regulator
616	Disc	646	Ripper
617	Drill	647	Rotary Hoe
618	Forage Harvester	648	Seed Plate
619	Gauge Wheel	649	Shovel (hand)
620	GPS Receiver & Light Bar	650	Soil Probe
621	Grain Auger	651	Soil Thermometer
622	Grain moisture meter	652	Sprayer
623	Grain storage bin/dryer	653	Sugar Beet Digger
624	Gravity wagon	654	Swather
625	Hearing protection	655	Sweep Net
626	Hitch pin	656	Tensiometer
627	Hoe (hand)	657	Tractor
628	Hydraulic line	658	Transplanter
629	Liquid manure/fertilizer Spreader	659	Yield monitor

5. Soil Properties and Management

Web Resources for Soil Properties and Management:

Main Source for Soils Section Questions

Click Here: General Soils Background Information

http://agronomy.unl.edu/ffa/sol&wat.htm

Suggested Links for additional information:

Univ. Of Nebraska, Plant & Soil e-Library:

http://plantandsoil.unl.edu/croptechnology2005/soil_sci/

USDA-NRCS Soil Science Division:

soils.usda.gov/

Nebguide: How soil holds water:

http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/fieldcrops/g964.htm

Glossary of soil science terms:

www.soils.org/sssagloss/search.html

NASA Soil Science Education Homepage

Soil Science for Educators & Students