Innovative Corn Yield Challenge

As rural communities struggle to keep young people in their communities, the Innovative Corn Challenge is a project designed to encourage youth to pursue an agricultural career and return to rural Nebraska.

Project Purpose

• To achieve new and innovative crop production methods to improve yields and provide research data for producers to implement in their operations which are economically feasible.
• To disseminate data to corn producers, researchers, and agri-businesses to examine and decide whether the practices used will help their operation achieve higher yields.
• To introduce youth to a variety of agronomic professionals, including corn producers. Youth will be working with an adult to mentor them through the process. These adults could be extension faculty, ag teachers, or other qualified agronomy professionals.
• To teach youth all aspects of corn production, as well as a variety of agricultural careers related to corn production. 

Eligibility 

4-H members (age 10 & older as of Jan. 1st) or FFA members (in-school members) may participate.
Yields, cropping history, and production information will be included in the Corn Yield Challenge management summary. (No limit on teams/county)

4-H Members
4-H’ers from each county are challenged to produce the most economical, highest yielding corn. The team with the highest percent yield increase over their local county average will win cash awards for their 4-H project to be used for plant science or leadership based programs.

FFA Members
FFA members from each chapter are challenged to produce the most economical, highest yielding corn. The team with the highest percent yield increase over their local county average will win cash awards for their FFA project to be used for plant science or leadership based programs.

Requirements for Participation

Each participating team needs a minimum of two, two-acre plots, which will be harvested for the Challenge. The plots can be on privately or publicly owned land but youth should be involved in the planning, managing, and harvesting of the plots.
Participants planting randomized and replicated plots are encouraged and if completed correctly will receive “bonus points”. Both irrigated and dryland fields are eligible and will be scored accordingly.

Awards/Recognition

Money is encouraged to be spent on furthering their projects which could include participation in activities such as workshops or agricultural tours, or next year’s project, etc. Team plaques will be given to the top 1, 2, & 3rd place teams.

Awards include:
1st Place Corn Challenge - $1,000
2nd Place Corn Challenge - $500
3rd Place Corn Challenge - $250

Data Completion Award - $200
Innovation Award - $200

All teams will receive $50 and a certificate of recognition. 
 

Planning Resources    

NEW! 
Participant Checklist
Project Proposal
Innovative Plan
Scouting Form


Review of the Scientific Method
Setting up an On-Farm Research Trial