Developing a New Crops Competition Event for the 2014 SASES Annual Meeting.

Crops competitions are an excellent way to assess student’s knowledge of agronomy.  At the 2014 ASA/CSSA/SSSA Annual Meeting in Long Beach, a new crops contest will be held in conjunction with the Students of Agronomy Soils and Environmental Sciences (SASES) meeting program.  All students attending will have the opportunity to compete and test their agronomic knowledge.  The contest will be comprised of four parts: plant and seed identification, lab practical, math exam, and an agronomic exam.  The contents of the contest are aligned with performance objectives outlined for the International Certified Crop Advisor (ICCA) exam.  All areas of agronomy may be tested, including, but not limited to: crop management, plant physiology, plant breeding, pest management (entomology, plant pathology, weed science), soil and water management, nutrient management, soil chemistry, and meteorology.  Rules for the contest will be similar to those used for the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Crops Contest.  Students can compete as teams of four and are eligible for individual awards.  The contest will be sponsored and directed by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), ICCA, NACTA, and SASES.