The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Crops Team earns third place at the Iowa State University Crops Contest Feb. 11. Pictured are seniors Blake Anderson (front row, from left), Cody McClellan, Cody Kuester and Jon Jahnke and sophomore Rodger Farr. Sophomore Sam Teten (back row, from left), juniors Bryan Wietjes and Bryant Biskup, sophomores Kolby Grint and Collin Thompson and Nebraska Crops Team coach, Adam Striegel, Doctor of Plant Health and agronomy graduate student.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Crops Judging Team competed in the Iowa State University Crops Contest on Feb. 11 and placed third in the four-year college division against other Midwest universities. This is the second time Nebraska placed in the top three since the contest began in 2013.
Designed to prepare students for a future career in agronomy, the contest provided a fun, competitive setting where awards were presented for team and individual achievements. The contest tested students’ knowledge on plant and seed identification, common insects and crop diseases, crop plant staging, planting rate calculations and other agronomic topics.
Ten Nebraska undergraduate students competed in four sections. The scoring team included agronomy seniors Blake Anderson, Cody Kuester, Cody McClellan and mechanized systems management senior Jon Jahnke.
The four sections were administered according to the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture rules and included:
Plant and seed identification: students were asked to identify common crop, forage and weed species. For each species, competitors were asked to identify the reproductive, vegetative characteristics and seeds selected from an approved list of 140 species.
Agronomic exam: students were tested over general agronomic knowledge such as, but not limited to, plant physiology and breeding, soil fertility, soil formation, tillage, crop production figures, weeds, insects and crop diseases.
Math exam: students were asked questions about calibration of agronomic equipment — such as planters and sprayers, fertilizer applications, various conversions and general agronomic math.
Lab practical: students were asked to identify insects, diseases, farm machinery and/or machinery components, abiotic plant damage, general agronomic problem solving issues, plant staging and forage quality.
The Nebraska Crops Team will compete next at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis on March 11, and then at the 2017 NACTA Judging Conference national competition, April 6–8, hosted by Kansas State University, in Manhattan, Kansas.