AGRONOMY (Crops & Weeds)

Content

AWARDS:

Purple - $3.00 Blue -$2.50    

Red - $2.00 White - $1.50

The purpose of these exhibits is to demonstrate to the public the benefits from the study and application of crop, range and soil sciences to solving problems in management, conservation, sustainability and environmental protection. An explanation of projects and curriculum resources can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/resources/projects/.

CROP PRODUCTION - GENERAL INFORMATION 

  1. Individuals in the Crop Production, Field Crop Projects (4-H 46) may exhibit grain or plants or prepare an educational display representing their project. The essay counts as 50% of the total when judged. Essay must be the original work of the individual exhibitor. Attach the essay to the entry in a clear plastic cover such that it can be read without removing it from the cover. In addition to the essay, grain and plant exhibits will be judged on condition, appearance (i.e., disease and insect damage, grain fill), uniformity (size, shape, color, maturity), and quality of exhibit. 
  2. IMPORTANT: A two-page (maximum) essay must accompany grain and plant exhibits. The essay must include the exhibitors name and, county, plant hybrid or variety, plant population, whether crop production was irrigated or dryland, and general information including farm cropping history, soil type and weather effects. The essay also must include an economic analysis of the project, listing individual expenses and income, on a per acre basis. Other topics to discuss are the selection of variety or hybrid, impacts of tillage and conservation practices, inputs (fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, labor, pesticides, etc.), any observations made during the growing season, and what you learned from your crops project. 
  3. Grain exhibits must be one gallon per sample. Grain Exhibits harvested in the fall (e.g., corn or soybeans) may be from the previous year's project. Display containers will be furnished. 
  4. Plant exhibits, except for ears of corn, must be the result of the current year's project. 
    1. Corn 10 ears or 3 stalks (cut at ground level with no roots or soil and bound together) 
    2. Grain Sorghum - 4 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together) 
    3. Soybeans - 6 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together) 
    4. Small grains (oats, barley, wheat, triticale) - sheaf of heads 2 inches in diameter at top tie with stems about 24" long. 
    5. Other crops (alfalfa, millet, etc.) - sheaf of stems 3 inches in diameter at top tied with stems cut at ground level or half size small square bale. 
CLASSES 

G750001       Corn (includes yellow, white, pop, waxy, or any other type) 

G750002       Soybeans 

G750003       Oats 

G750004       Wheat 

G750005       Any other crop (includes grain sorghum, alfalfa, millets, barley, rye, triticale, amaranth, dry beans, sugar beet, mung bean, canola, forage sorghum, safflower, etc.) 

CROP PRODUCTION DISPLAYS 

  1. The purpose of the display is to tell an educational story to those that view the display. The display is a visual representation (pictures, charts, graphs) no larger than 24” wide by 24” tall on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with exhibitor’s name, and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely. Consider creativity and neatness. 
  2. Each display must have a one-page essay (minimum) explaining why the exhibitor chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used. The essay should be in a clear plastic cover with the exhibitor's name outside. 

CLASSES 

G750006       Crop Production Display - The purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about crop production aspects, such as crop scouting, alternative crops, and pest management. 

G750007      Crop Technology Display - Display information about aspects of technology used in crop production, such as genetic engineering, crop breeding, GPS, yield mapping, computers, etc. 

G750008      Crop End Use Display - Display information about the final product or end uses for a crop, such as food, feed, fuel, or other products. (i.e., corn can be processed into livestock feed, ethanol, plastics, etc. or soybeans can be processed into biodiesel, pet bedding, crayons, oil, etc.) 

G750009       Water or Soil Display – Display information about water or soils, such as how soils are being used for crop production, range, conservation, wildlife, or wetland use, or ways to protect or conserve water and soil resources, 

G750010       Career Interview Display – The purpose of this class is to allow youth to investigate a Career in agronomy. Youth should interview 1 person that works with crops about such topics as, what parts of their job do they enjoy or dislike, why did they choose that career, what was their education, etc. Include a picture of the person interviewed. 

2026 Special Agronomy Crop

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live in. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different. This year, we will be exploring a crop that can be marketed different ways depending on the variety. In the sixth year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore TWO varieties of popcorn!  The first is an heirloom variety that was discovered and developed by a farmer in eastern Nebraska, called Nebraska Red. The second is a commercial variety, Robust 997.

 

G750011       Special Agronomy Project - Educational Exhibit (SF259)- Educational exhibit based on what was learned from the project. Present information on a poster 14” X 22” either vertical or horizontal arrangement or in a clear plastic report cover. The 4-H member’s name, age, and county must be on the back of the poster or report cover. Refer to Scoresheet SF259 Each display must have a one-page essay (minimum) explaining why the exhibitor chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used. 

G750012       Special Agronomy Project -Video Presentation - 4-H exhibitor designs a multimedia presentation related to the crop. This could include narration of the growing process, presenting facts about the crop or any other innovative multimedia practices. The presentation should be at least 2 minutes in length and no more than 5 minutes in length, appropriate graphics, sound and either a video clip, animation, or voice over and/or original video clip. Presentations are to be uploaded to a video streaming application and 4-H member must provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or link on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing. 

G750013       Special Agronomy Project (Freshly Harvested Crop). 2026 Crop is Popcorn. Plant exhibits must be the result of the current year's project. Depending on the type of crop selected for the current year:  

  • Corn - 10 ears or 3 stalks (cut at ground level with no roots or soil and bound together) 
  • Grain Sorghum - 4 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together) 
  • Soybeans - 6 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together) 
  • Small grains (oats, barley, wheat, triticale) - sheaf of heads 2 inches in diameter at top tie with stems about 24" long. 
  • Other crops (alfalfa, millet, etc.) - sheaf of stems 3 inches in diameter at top tied with stems cut at ground level. 

Supporting documentation (½ to 1-page in length) should include the following:  

  • Economic Analysis and/or research that supports feasibility of this crop in Nebraska or how the crop has evolved over time.  
  • Other topics to discuss are past/current commercial production of this crop. This includes: the selection of variety or hybrid, impacts of tillage and conservation practices, inputs (fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, labor, pesticides, etc.), any observations made during the growing season about this crop and what you learned from your crops project. This ½ to 1-page summary counts as 50% of the total when judged.  
  • In addition to the summary, grain and plant exhibits will be judged on condition, appearance (i.e., disease and insect damage, grain fill), uniformity (size, shape, color, maturity), and quality of exhibit. 

WEED SCIENCE

GENERAL RULES 

  1. Any 4-H’er in the Conservation, Environment 1,2, or 3; Range, Reading the Range 1; Using Nebraska Range 2; or Crop Production, Field Crops projects may exhibit a weed book or weed display. The book cover and at least 15 of the specimens must represent this year's work. For assistance identifying plants, participants can use the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains (1994) or Weeds of the Great Plains (2003). 
  2. Exhibits will be judged based on completeness of plant mount, accuracy of identification, label, neatness and conformity to exhibit requirements. 
  3. Display one plant on the book cover (no label required on cover specimen). Plants must be mounted on sheets that are no larger than 14” wide by 14” high. Proper plant mount should include root as well as stem and leaf tissue. Plants should be glued rather than taped and the mounts should be protected with a clear cover. Each completed mount must have the following information (see example below) in the lower right corner of the mounting sheet: 
  4. Scientific name (in italic or underlined), with authority
  5. Common name
  6. County of collection
  7. Collection date
  8. Collector’s name
  9. Personal collection number, indicating the order that plants were collected, in your personal collection. 
  10. Other information depending on the selected class, i.e., noxious, life form. This information should be typed or printed very neatly. 
CLASSES 

G751001       Weed Identification Book – A collection of a minimum of 15 plant mounts and including at least two of the following prohibited noxious weeds (Canada thistle, leafy spurge, musk thistle, plume less thistle, salt cedar, purple loosestrife, diffuse knapweed, spotted knapweed Japanese knotweed, giant knotweed, sericea lespedeza, bohemian knotweed or phragmites), and at least five weeds that are a problem primarily in lawns. 

G751002       Life Span Book - A collection of 7 perennial, 1 biennial and 7 annual weeds. 

G751003       Weeds Display - The purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about weeds, such as the effects of weed control, herbicide-resistant weeds, what makes a weed a weed, or uses for weeds. The purpose of the display is to tell an educational story to those that view the display. The display is a visual representation (pictures, charts, graphs) no larger than 24” by 24” on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with exhibitor’s name, and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely. Each display must have a one-page essay explaining why the exhibitor chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used. The essay should be in a clear plastic cover with the exhibitor's name outside.