ARKANSAS FFA AGRONOMY

CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENT

  1. Objective

A. To demonstrate basic knowledge of agronomic sciences.

B. To determine the ability to identify agronomic:

1. Crops

2. Weeds

3. Seeds

4. Insects

5. Diseases

6. Plant nutrient deficiencies

7. Plant disorders

8. Crop grading and pricing

9. Equipment

  1. Event Rules
  1. Team Make-up: Four members will be on each team. The top three scores will be counted for the total team score.
  2. Under no circumstances will a participant be allowed to destroy any of the items in the identification portion of the practicums. Any infractions of this rule will be sufficient to eliminate a team from the event.
  3. Written Material: All written material will be furnished for the event. Written materials such as tests, problems, and worksheets may only be removed with permission of the contest superintendent.
  4. Any participant with a cellular device in their hand will be disqualified. Cellular devices may NOT be used as calculators under any circumstances.
  1. Event Format
  1. Materials students must provide:
  1. Clean, free from notes clipboard.
  2. Two sharpened No. 2 pencils.
  3. Non-programmable electronic calculator: The calculators used during the event are to be battery operated, non-programmable, and silent. The calculators should only have these functions: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, equals, percent, square root, and one memory register. No other calculators are allowed to be used during the event.
  1. Individual Activities
  1. General Knowledge Examination-100points

Fifty objective multiple choice questions will be given to each participant. Questions will come from a National FFA Test Question Bank consisting of questions from the 5 previous years National contests.

  1. Identification-150points

Students will identify fifty (50) weed and/or crop plants and/or seeds. Plants may be presented in any stage of growth following emergence. The list of possible specimens can be found at arkansasffa.org by clicking on the following link.

  1. Commodity Evaluation-250points

Participants will evaluate the quality of four different crops. These evaluations will be broken down into three different categories representing different aspects of quality: purity, marketability and usability.

a. Purity (Seed Analysis)(Odd Years Only) -50 points

i. Participants will complete a seed tag based on provided sample using the following criteria:

- Name and address of company responsible for label information.

- Kind and variety.

- Date tested, month and year of lab test.

- Purity and germination percentage.

- Percentage by weight of all weed seeds.

- Name and approximate number per ounce of each kind of secondary, noxious weed seeds.

- Percent weed seed

- Percentage by weight of inert matter.

- Net weight (pounds) of seed in the bag.

- State where seed was grown.

ii. Variety Selection

Participant will be given multiple seed tags and they must select most appropriate and economical choice for the given scenario. A written reason must be given for the selections. Necessary information will be provided, including soil type, maturity information, germination rate, percent of weed seeds and cost of seed.

b. Marketability (Grain Grading)(Even Years Only) -50 points

Participants will determine factors and conditions that will determine the grade of various crops. Grain grading will be done in accordance with the Official U. S. Standards for Grain. Information on grain grading can be found in the laws and regulations section of

i. Two samples will be graded in 30 minutes. Each sample is worth 25 points.

ii. Participants will be given two base samples to determine the class and/or subclass of grain. The rotation for the given seed samples are as follows:

-Even years: Corn, Soybeans, & Wheat

iii. Participants will be provided information about grain samples (e.g. test weight,

moisture and special conditions).

iv. Participants will be given representative samples in a sealed package of defected seed. Raw weights of each defect will be given, and participants calculate the percentage of each based on the flow chart provided.

v. Participants will complete the Grain Grading Answer Sheet.

vi. Participants will determine market price based on provided discount schedule.

c. Usability (Crop Quality)(Odd and Even Years Both) -100 points

Two classes of crop samples, one of a forage, fiber or grain crop and one from another crop will be evaluated in 30 minutes (15 minutes per sample). Each class will consist of four samples of the same crop. Participants will rank each class with a Hormel card (25 points per sample)

4. Pest Management-100 points

a. Disorders (Even Years)

Ten samples will be identified according to category, causal agent and damage location. Refer to “corrected disorder study material” at arkansasffa.org.

b. Insect Identification-(Odd years)

Ten samples will be identified according to insect name, lifecycle, economic impact and mouth part. Refer to “Insect ID” at arkansasffa.org.

5. Equipment and Machinery Identification-50 points

Participants will be required to identify 10 specimens from the equipment/machinery identification list. Samples may appear as actual equipment, scale models, toys or pictures. Major components that are unique to a certain piece of equipment can also be used.

  1. Scoring

Participants scores are the sum of the individual phases of the event, and team scores are the sum of the three highest placing participants scores.

PhaseIndividual Points PossibleTeam Points Possible

Examination100300

Identification150450

Commodity150450

Pest Management100300 (Disorders-Even Years Insect ID-Odd Years )

Equipment/Machinery Identification50150

TOTAL5501650

  1. Tiebreakers
  1. Team tiebreakers will be settled in the following order:
  2. Highest Individual Score
  1. Individuals tiebreakers will be settled in the following order:
  2. Plant and Seed Identification