The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) hosted the first in-person, regional collegiate crops judging contest of 2021 and won the 2-year college division.
The NCTA Aggie team topped 2-year schools, while Iowa State University team won the 4-year division.
Nine universities and colleges from Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin traveled to Curtis for the daylong contest organized by Brad Ramsdale, NCTA agronomy professor and crops judging team coach.
Individually, four NCTA students on the first-place team earned top five honors. Earning honors were, 1st-Jacob Jenkins of Mitchell; 2nd-Connor Nolan of Lynch, 3rd-Koltyn Forbes of Wood River, and 5th-Lilly Calkins of Palmyra.
Also participating from NCTA in an unofficial capacity were freshmen Ahren Marburger of Malvern, Iowa, and Allison Wilkens of Gibbon.
Crops contests focus on knowledge and skill requirements to become a certified crop advisor. Four parts are agronomic exam, math practical, lab practical, and plant and seed identification.
Students have one hour to complete each of the four contest categories:
- Agronomic Exam – this is a comprehensive exam overall knowledge in the field of agronomy. The exam includes 75 multiple choice questions.
- Math Practical – an exam that encompasses all possible mathematical problems in agronomy. Example calculations include seeding rates, fertilizer application rates, sprayer calibration, harvest losses, irrigation scheduling, grain moisture adjustments and livestock rations.
- Lab Practical – an exam that includes 75 specimens that can range from insect, disease and equipment identification; crop growth staging; pesticide labels; nutrient deficiency symptoms, fertilizer samples, and many more.
- Plant and Seed Identification – a 75-specimen exam of crop and weed plants and seeds. The exam has over 150 possible species.
