AGRONOMY. 3-4 Member Team IMPORTANT NOTE

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1 AGRONOMY - Member Team IMPORTANT NOTE Please thoroughly read the General CDE Rules Section at the beginning of this handbook for complete rules and procedures that are relevant to State FFA Career Development Events. I. PURPOSE Oklahoma FFA Agronomy CDE promotes an interest and understanding of agronomy through the demonstration of skills and proficiencies. II. III. OBJECTIVES By participating in this contest, students will:. Demonstrate basic knowledge of agronomic principles and practices. Learn to identify agronomically important crops and weeds and measure grain quality using standard grain grading practices. Practice applying science and mathematics to solve real-world agricultural problems. Explore career opportunities, skills, and proficiencies in the agronomic industry. Experience challenges and find success. EVENT RULES. These rules and regulations are official for the State FFA Interscholastic Career Development Event in Agronomy. They may be supplemented as necessary after consultation with Agricultural Education officials. Changes will be communicated at Coordinators of district and invitational contests throughout the state are encouraged to follow these rules for their contests, but they are not required to do so. The sponsoring institutions are fully responsible for contest set-up, operation and supervision; interpretation of rules; scoring, tabulation, and awards; and announcing the location and time of district and invitational contests. The OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences will prepare contest materials for purchase by district contest sponsors only if requested by February,. An order form is included in these rules as Appendix A.. Students attending any Oklahoma high school approved for competition by the Agriculture Division, Oklahoma State Department of Vocational/Technical Education may enter the contest. Any student entering the contest must be a regularly enrolled agricultural education student and eligible for competition under Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association rules.. All participants will be assigned a contestant number. This number must be written on all answer sheets.

2 . Participants will be divided into three groups. Each participant must stay with their assigned group until they are told otherwise by the contest supervisor.. The contest will be scored as follows: Section Amount Value Identification samples (pts each) points Grain Grading samples ( pts each) points Agronomic Knowledge Exam questions ( pts each) points Total points. Detailed instructions for identification and grain grading are found in Appendixes B and C, respectively.. The coaches will have the privilege of checking all materials used in the contest. A coach shall not object to anything being included in the contest because it was not secured for study.. The contestants will not communicate with anyone except contest officials while the contest is in progress. This includes verbal communication as well as telephone calls and text messages.. Legible writing and proper spelling are required and will be considered in scoring. Points will be deducted for misspelling.. In view of fairness to all schools, no team will be permitted to practice in the OSU crops teaching laboratory, except during supervised training workshops conducted prior to the contest. A list of resources is provided in Appendix E. IV. FORMAT The event consists of three sections: Identification ( Minutes) Grain Grading ( Minutes) Agronomic Knowledge Exam ( Minutes) V. EVENT FORMAT A. Team Make-Up. A team will consist of three or four members. The top three scores will be counted for the team total. If an entire team is not entered, one or two individuals from a school may compete for individual honors.. If more than four students from a given school wish to participate, the additional students may compete and be scored as individuals but these scores will not count for the team scores even if their totals are higher than the assigned team members.

3 B. Equipment A contestant may take the following into the contest: magnifying lens, forceps, clip board, pencil or pen, calculator, and watch No outside grain grading sheets will be allowed in contest rooms as well as calculators that are capable of storing equations unless the home screen has been cleared and checked by proctors. Also, no watches that sync with cell phones or cell phones will be allowed in the testing areas. If superintendents or proctors discover students using any prohibited material in testing areas, they are permitted to take up answer materials and disqualify the student s scores. All other needed materials, including answer sheets and grain grading worksheets will be provided by the contest superintendent. C. Event Schedule Each contestant shall complete the event in the time allotted. D. Identification of Plant Materials ( Points). The contestant will identify a total of plants, seeds, damages, insects, diseases, disorders, and machinery in minutes. It is possible that the same species may occur more than one time in the contest. Each sample will be given a value of points, for a total of points. Students will be provided an official sheet of numbered ID specimens to help fill in the corresponding number with the sample on their scan sheet.. Plants will generally be shown in the reproductive stage (flower bud through seed maturity). Samples may be presented as preserved mounts, dried bundles or specimen, fresh cuttings, live specimen, photographs, or replicas. A magnifying lens is suggested to aid in identification.. A numbered list of the names of all samples on the official identification list arranged in alphabetical order (Appendix B) will be included with the official answer form used by the contestant. The contestant will identify each sample, select the appropriate number from the answer list, and record that number in a scan sheet provided. Both pages of the form must be turned in when the contestant is finished with the identification section.

4 E. Grain Grading ( points). Six samples of grain will be graded according to the Federal Grain Inspection Standards. This section is worth points, with each sample worth points; points for recording the correct grade designation plus points for recording the factors determining the grade (see the description of grain grading in Appendix C for additional scoring information).. The samples will be from the following classes: hard red winter wheat, hard white winter wheat, Durum wheat, mixed wheat; sorghum, white sorghum, tannin sorghum, mixed sorghum, yellow corn, white corn, mixed corn, yellow soybeans, and mixed soybeans.. Samples will consist of cards with seeds glued to various areas representing a commercial grading sample which has already been separated. Each card will include a base sample of the grain to be graded, the necessary card factors, and up to six visual factors. The base sample must be examined to determine the predominating market class of the crop. Given factors are those which cannot be determined by the student, and for which values must be provided. These include test weight per bushel, odors, percent of material sieved from the sample, certain sample grade factors, and all factors determining the special grades. The visual factors are small quantities of materials which may affect the commercial quality of the grain. These are shown on the card with the percentage of the sample they comprise. Students must determine the effect of each factor on the grade of the sample. Other market classes that might cause the grain to be graded as class "mixed" may also be shown as visual factors. The contestant must consider all of the evidence accompanying each sample, and record the market grade designation, together with the factors which determine the designation on the scoring sheet as shown in the explanation and examples given in Appendix C.. Each contestant will be provided with a summary sheet containing the grade requirement table and for special grades, market classes, and grading factors as shown on the following pages. (These summary sheets are abbreviated and may sometimes differ from the actual Federal Grain Inspection Standards. For the Oklahoma event, the guidelines for grade and class determination on the provided summary sheets will apply.) Contestants will also be provided with a worksheet to use when determining the grade. Both handouts are available in Appendix C.

5 F. Agronomic Knowledge Exam ( points). The general agronomic examination will be comprised of questions; multiple choice questions will be utilized for this year s event. Calculations will still be worked out but answer choices will be multiple choice. Answer choices will be filled out on the official scansheet.. Questions will be of general agronomic nature based on crops produced in Oklahoma, including but not limited to winter wheat, winter canola, alfalfa, cotton, peanut, soybean, sorghum. Topics will include but are not limited to crop biology and adaptation, planting, nutrient and water requirements, common pests, harvesting and storage.. Sample questions for study purposes are available as Appendix D. VI. VII. VIII. SCORING Plant Identification points Grain Grading points Knowledge Exam points Total Points Individual. points Team.. points TIEBREAKERS Ties will be broken based upon scores in identification. If the tie remains unbroken, grain grading then general agronomic knowledge exam will be used to break the tie. AWARDS Trophies and certificates for winners are presented by the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences offers a scholarship to the high individual in the state contest if he or she attends Oklahoma State University and majors in Plant and Soil Sciences.

6 IX. Appendixes APPENDIX A Crops Judging Material Order Form Deadline to order for Agronomy CDE: February, * Teacher s name School or Organization Address City, State, Zip Telephone Ordered By Date Received (official use only) Received By (official use only) Type of Payment/ Purchase Order No. ITEMS UNIT COST TOTAL COST PLANTS Complete Set ( plants) Mounted SEEDS Complete Set ( seeds) appx. a teaspoon full of seed $. each plant mount $. each bag MISCELLANEOUS Grain Grading Practice Samples (set of ) $. CONTEST KITS Contest Kit---to be used for District Contests $.** *Because of limited supplies orders received after February may not be filled **Because of the planning required to prepare for each contest, orders for contest kits placed after February will incur a $ surcharge. Send order to: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Ag Hall Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK --

7 APPENDIX B - Plant, Seed, and Insect Identification List Crops Seed/Plant or Both Weeds Seed/Plant or Both alfalfa both barnyardgrass both barley both buffalobur both bermudagrass both bull thistle plant big bluestem both Canada thistle plant buffalograss both cheat both canola both common chickweed both confectionary sunflower seed common lambsquarters both corn plant/ear/tassel common milkweed both cotton boll/seed/plant common cocklebur both crimson clover both common ragweed both dent corn seed common sunflower both durum wheat seed crabgrass both flax both curly dock both hairy vetch both dandelion plant hard red winter wheat seed dodder plant hard white wheat seed downy brome both indiangrass both field bindweed both Kentucky bluegrass both field pennycress both Korean lespedeza both giant ragweed both little bluestem both goosegrass plant oat both green foxtail both orchardgrass both henbit plant peanut pod/seed/plant horsenettle both perennial ryegrass both horseweed plant pinto fieldbean seed jimsonweed both plains bluestem both jointed goatgrass both pop corn seed kochia both red clover both Pennsylvania smartweed both rice both prostrate knotweed plant rye both puncturevine both sericea lespedeza both quackgrass both sesame both redroot pigweed both sideoats grama both rescuegrass both soft red winter wheat seed Russian thistle both soft white wheat seed sandbur both sweet sudangrass both shepherdsepurse both sunflower plant silverleaf nightshade plant sweet corn seed tall morningglory both sweetclover both velvetleaf both switchgrass both venice mallow both tall fescue both wild buckwheat both triticale seed wild carrot plant weeping lovegrass both wild garlic bulblet wheat plant wild oat both white clover both yellow foxtail both yellow soybean both yellow nutsedge plant

8 Insects Machinery Disease and Disorders alfalfa weevil air seeder drill bacterial blight of soybean aphid baler bacterial wilt of alfafa bean leaf beetle center pivot barley yellow dwarf virus black cutworm combine bean pod mottle virus blister beetle corn harvester head blacktip of wheat chinch bug cotton picker blue eye mold corn ear worm field cultivator charcoal rot of sorghum corn rootworm gauge wheel ergot cricket GPS receiver and light bar gibberella stalk rot European corn borer grain auger grey leaf spot fall army worm grain moisture meter leaf rust granary weevil grain storage bin/dryer loose smut grasshopper hay rake nitrogen deficiency honeybee hydraulic hose northern corn leaf blight lacewing mower phosphorous deficiency lady beetle nozzle bodies (flat vs. hood) Phytopthora root rot leafhopper plow potassium deficiency spider mite press wheel purple stain of soybean stinkbug ripper stem rust tobacco hornworm rotary hoe wheat scab wireworm row crop planter wheat streak mosaic virus soil probe sprayer swather tractor yield monitor

9 Scoring Scoring of each sample will be as follows: APPENDIX C Grain Grading Grade Designation ( points) Crop name omitted, deduct points Wrong class or class omitted, deduct points Special grade wrong or omitted, deduct points each (not more than points) One grade off, deduct points Two grades off, deduct points Three or more grades off, deduct points Correct grade wrongly written, deduct point for each of the following (up to points): Wrong abbreviation for "U.S. No." Wrong term used Words not listed alphabetically Incorrect punctuation Words misspelled All words not capitalized. Grade Factors ( points) One factor required: Wrong, deduct points Two factors required: One wrong, deduct points; Both wrong, deduct points Three factors required: One wrong, deduct points; Two wrong, deduct points; Three wrong, deduct points Four factors required: One wrong, deduct points; Two wrong, deduct points; Three wrong, deduct points; Four wrong, deduct points If more factors are listed than required, value of each wrong extra factor will be divided by the total number of factors listed (dropping any fraction). For example, if two are required by four are listed, deduct / = points for each wrong factor. Grade determining factors, wrongly written, deduct point for each of the following errors (up to points): o Wrong percent given o Wrong term used (Abbreviations of factors are acceptable and not considered wrong if the proper abbreviation is used-find correct abbreviations after the EXAMPLE section) o All words not capitalized o Factors not listed alphabetically o Words misspelled o "()", "%" omitted. Explanations Grain is graded for marketing purposes according to a set of requirements, established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), called the Official U.S. Standards for Grain. The purpose of grading grain is to assign a label to it, known as the grade designation, which indicates its quality and determines its market value. Following is an explanation of the grading standards for wheat, sorghum, corn, and soybeans in a simplified form, taken from the U.S. Grain Standards for these crops. Grades: Samples of grain are placed in numerical grades, ranging from U.S. No. to U.S. No.

10 , or Sample Grade, depending on quality. Certain factors or quality characteristics must be measured for each sample of grain, and the degree of quality of each factor is compared to the values listed in the grade requirements chart. The numerical grade for each factor on the table must be properly recorded. Numerical Grading Factors: The numerical grading factors are the quality characteristics that determine the grade number assigned to a sample of grain. They are the column headings on the grade requirement charts, and most of them apply to all of the grains to be graded, although the limits may differ from one grain to another. The grade assigned to a sample is always based on the most serious factor or factors. Test Weight Per Bushel: Test weight is the weight in pounds of an exact bushel volume of grain. Usually a one quart container is filled and weighed, with the weight converted to pounds per bushel. A bushel of dry, clean, plump grain will weigh more than an equal quantity of grain which is shriveled, hollowed out by insects, or high in moisture. Thus, a high test weight indicates good quality and a high numerical grade, while low test weight places the sample in a lower grade. Damaged Kernels: Damaged kernels are those which for some reason may be considered unfit for food or feed purposes. There are many types of grain damage, but we will be concerned primarily with those included in the identification list (heat, sprout, mold, and insect damage). Of these, Heat-damaged Kernels are considered especially serious, and are handled as a separate factor in each of the grade requirements charts. The other kinds of damage are grouped together, and along with heat damage, are classified as total damage. Therefore, heat damage must be considered by itself, then added to any other kind of damage present, and considered as part of the numerical grading factor for Damaged Kernels (Total). Other colors or market classes of the grain being graded which are damaged must also be included in Damaged Kernels (Total). In grading of corn, only damaged kernels of corn, and in soybeans, only damaged kernels of soybeans, are included as damaged kernels. However, in grading of wheat or sorghum, any of the kinds of damaged kernels of other grains on the identification list are included as part of the numerical factor for either Heat-damaged Kernels or Damaged Kernels (Total). For example, in grading corn, sprout-damaged wheat in the sample does not count as damaged kernels, but in grading sorghum, sprout-damaged wheat is included as damaged kernels, either by itself or added to any damaged sorghum present. (The wheat is also considered as foreign material in either case). Heat-damaged Kernels are those which are distinctly black or brown due to high temperatures which build up in "hot spots" in damp grain stored for long periods. Sprout-damaged kernels are those which germinate on the plant during very wet conditions which delay harvest and which dry out later killing the germ. Kernels on which mold or other diseases have been growing are also considered as damaged kernels. Kernels are considered insect-damaged if the insect has eaten a tunnel, hold, or cavity which is not fully exposed. Foreign Material/Broken Corn and Foreign Material/Broken Kernels and Foreign Material: Foreign material includes all matter in the sample except the kind of grain which is being graded. Fine material, dirt, small pieces of broken grain, pieces of stems, hulls, weed seeds, and any other grains are all considered foreign material. Some of these may be separated by mechanical screening or sieving. Each crop differs slightly in the way foreign material and broken kernels are separated and defined. In soybeans, the factor Foreign Material consists of fine material screened out which is given as a card factor plus any visual foreign material (other crops,

11 weed seed, etc.) shown on the grading card. In wheat, the factor Foreign Material consists only of visual factors, since the fine material is removed as dockage. In corn, the factor Broken Corn and Foreign Material consists of broken corn and fine foreign material screened out which will be given as card factors plus any visual foreign material shown on the card. In sorghum, there are two factors of concern. The factor Foreign Material includes coarse foreign material screened out which will be given as a card factor plus any visual foreign material shown on the card. The factor Broken Kernels and Foreign Material also includes a fine broken kernels portion screened out which will also be given as a card factor. In wheat and sorghum, visual demonstrations of other grains which are damaged are counted both as Foreign Material and Damaged Kernels (Total). Shrunken and Broken Kernels in wheat is used as a numerical factor. This is determined by sieving, and is given as a card factor on every sample of wheat. Defects (Total), as a numerical factor in wheat, is the sum of the Damaged Kernels (Total), Foreign Material, and Shrunken and Broken Kernels added together. It should be noted that the limits for Defects (Total) in the grade requirements for wheat are the same as for Shrunken and Broken Kernels. Thus, if the percent of Shrunken and Broken Kernels alone determines the numerical grade, Defects (Total) must also be listed as a determining factor. Heat-damaged kernels are a part of Defects (Total), but do not need to be added again since they should already have been included as a part of the Damaged Kernels (Total). Contrasting Classes in wheat refers to the presence of Durum Wheat or Hard White Wheat or Soft WhiteWheat in Hard Red Winter Wheat, which would reduce the quality of a sample of Hard Red Winter Wheat for bread making. A sample cannot be graded lower than U.S. No. because of Contrasting Classes. If it contains more than % Contrasting Classes, the sample is classified as Mixed Wheat, and then it is regarded with the factor Contrasting Classes disregarded. Splits in soybeans are broken pieces of soybeans in the sample that are not otherwise damaged (i.e. mold, insect, etc.) They are considered objectionable and lower the grade of the sample because the oil in the broken pieces is oxidized, reducing the quality of the soybean oil when extracted. They will be shown as one of the visual factors. If split kernels are, in fact, also damaged in some other way, they must be considered as Damaged Kernels (Total) instead of Splits. Soybeans of Other Colors refers to Brown or Black Soybeans in a sample of Yellow Soybeans. This factor will be demonstrated as a visual factor or may be given as a card factor for Black or Brown Soybeans. A sample cannot be graded lower than U.S. No. because of Soybeans of Other Colors. If it contains more than % Soybeans of Other Colors, the sample is classified as Mixed Soybeans, and it is then regarded with the factor Soybeans of Other Colors disregarded. (Note: brown soybeans and black soybeans are not on the identification list, but may still appear in the grain grading section.) SAMPLE GRADE FACTORS Whenever any of the numerical grading factors on the grade requirements chart exceeds the limits of the lowest grade, except Contrasting Classes in wheat or Soybeans of Other Colors in soybeans, the sample must be placed in Sample Grade. Other factors which would cause a sample to be Sample Grade are discussed below. The descriptions and limitations for sample grade factors are given the paragraph immediately below the

12 numerical chart in the standards for each crop. Since most of these determinations are made on large portions of the grain or in the elevator, boxcar or barge (i.e. odors, heating, etc.) when the sample is first collected, they will all be given as card factors for the contest. Grain which is Sample Grade is generally considered to be unfit for human food or commercial use. If these non-numerical factors are grade-determining, they must be recorded in the remarks section. Stones: The presence of or more stones in a -gram sample of any of the grains ( or more for wheat) places it in Sample Grade. Weight limits also apply for some crops, but will be ignored for the contest. The number of stones per gram sample will be given as a card factor. Since most grain sold by grade is ground up for food or feed, the presence of stones would be damaging to the processing machinery, and objectionable when found in food products. Castorbeans, Cockleburs, Crotalaria, Broken Glass, Animal Filth: The presence of any of these materials in a sample of grain is undesirable for either human food or animal feed. Castorbeans and crotalaria are poisonous seeds, broken glass is dangerous, and animal filth is highly objectionable. They are listed specifically as Sample Grade factors in the grading standards charts with appropriate limits per gram sample. For the contest, they will always be given as card factors with amounts per grams indicated. Harmful or Toxic Foreign Substance: This refers mainly to poison-treated seed grain. The chemical mixture applied to seeds for planting to prevent seedling diseases is usually colored a bright pink, purple or green. Its presence causes grains to be graded as Sample Grade because of distinctly low quality. Farmers must be extremely careful to prevent mixing of any left-over treated seed with grain that they feed, and particularly with the grain they sell. If any poison-treated kernels are found, the entire lot (truckload, railroad car or bin full) may be seized by the Federal Food and Drug Administration, and condemned for any feed or food use. Musty, Sour, or Heating: Each of these terms, which will be given as a card factor, indicates that the grain is in the process of spoiling, and is not in good condition. If present, they should be listed as determining factors for Sample Grade on the right-handed side of the grain grading answer sheet. Commercially Objectionable Foreign Odors: This term includes any strong odor which the grain may pick up, which stays in it throughout processing, and which remains in the finished product, such as flour or cornmeal, baked goods or soybean oil. The kind of odors which we will include in our grading, all of which will be given as card factors, are smoke odor, skunk odor, oil, gasoline, diesel, or kerosene odor, and dead animal odor (due to tankage, meat scraps, raw hides or dead rodents in the grain). Many of these odors are picked up by storing grain in the sample buildings with these odor-producing materials, or in bins, trucks, or box cars contaminated with them. It should be noted that odors of smut or garlic are not considered to be commercially objectionable. SPECIAL GRADE FACTORS Special grades are quality determinations made after the numerical grade has been determined. They indicate some quality feature of the grain which is not included in the grading chart (i.e. Infested, Garlicky, Smutty). When a special grade applies, the proper term for each grain is added to the grade designation, following the class and kind of

13 grain on the left-handed side of the answer sheet. The quantities or reasons which cause the use of a special grade are never listed as a grading factor on the right-hand side of the answer form (factors included on the right are only those determining the numerical grade). All factors for determining special grades will be stated as card factors, and any evidence which might be found in the master sample must be ignored. Special grades need not be recorded in the remarks section, but must appear with the lot designation. MARKET CLASSES OF GRAIN When sold for commercial purposes, each kind of grain is divided into market classes, which indicate the kind of use each sample is best suited for. Classes of corn, sorghum and soybeans are based on color. In wheat, classes are based on differences in texture (hardness) and protein content as well as color. The texture of wheat is determined mainly by the weather and varieties grown, which vary a great deal in different parts of the United States. The cool climate and high rainfall of the Pacific Northwest and of the Northeastern states is best suited to growing Soft White Wheat, which is very low in protein, and is used for crackers, pastries, noodles and breakfast cereals. In Oklahoma and the surrounding states in the Southern Great Plains, we grow Hard Red Winter Wheat, which usually has enough protein for good bread-making. Newly developed Hard White Wheat varieties suitable for bread making are being grown in California and in the Great Plains and may become as popular as Hard Red Winter Wheat. Hard Red SpringWheat is grown in the Northern Great Plains (the Dakotas and Canada) where the dry summers cause the wheat to be high in protein, and ideal for bread-making. Durum Wheat is also grown in the Northern Great Plains and is very hard which makes very good macaroni, spaghetti and noodles. Its protein content is very high, but it is not of suitable quality for making bread. The Eastern states, which have plenty of rainfall, produce Soft Red Winter Wheat, which has low protein content, and is best suited for cookies and cakes. We will grade only samples of Oklahoma-grown Hard Red Winter Wheat, and need to consider only hard White Wheat, Soft White Wheat and Durum Wheat for the grading factor "Contrasting Classes" and the possibility that it may be classified as Mixed Wheat. Although Soft Red Winter and Hard Red Spring mixtures in the Hard Red Winter Wheat may also affect the grade and class, they are difficult to distinguish from one another and will not be used in the grading portion of our contest. Market class need not be recorded in remarks section, but must appear as part of the lot designation. Classes of corn: - Yellow Corn: Kernels yellow or yellow with reddish areas, containing not more than five percent of white, red, or other-colored kernels. - White Corn: Kernels white or white with pink or yellow tinges with not more than two percent of yellow or other colors. - Mixed Corn: Any sample that does not meet the requirements for the classes Yellow Corn or White Corn. Classes of sorghum: - Sorghum: Sorghum with white subcoats and yellow, yellow-red, orange-red, salmon-pink, reddish or white pericarps, or white pericarps with black or reddish spots, with not more than three percent of tannin sorghum. White kernels are allowed in any amount in yellow sorghum and do not cause mixed sorghum.

14 - Tannin Sorghum: Sorghum with brown subcoats caused by the presence of tannin with not more than ten percent of sorghum of other colors. Tannin sorghums are identified by the presence of brown subcoats beneath the pericarps and may have pericarps of other colors. However, tannin sorghum used in the contest will have only brown or tan pericarps so they can be distinguished from non-tannin sorghum with reddish pericarps. - White Sorghum: Sorghum with white pericarps with not more than two percent of sorghum of other colors. White sorghum with more than two percent sorghum (yellow, red, orange or salmon pericarps) and less than three percent tannin sorghum is classified as "Sorghum". White kernels may have black, brown, or reddish spots which cover not more than % of the kernel. - Mixed Sorghum: Sorghum and/or white sorghum with more than three percent tannin sorghum or tannin sorghum with more than ten percent of other colors. Classes of soybeans: - Yellow Soybeans: Soybeans with yellow or greenish seed coats with not more than ten percent soybeans of other colors (black and/or brown soybeans). - Mixed Soybeans: Soybeans with more than ten percent soybeans of other colors (black and/or brown soybeans). (Note: Brown Soybeans and Black Soybeans have been removed from the identification list, but may still appear in the grain grading section.) Classes of wheat: - Hard Red Winter Wheat: Hard Red Winter Wheat with not more than ten percent wheat of Contrasting Classes (Durum and/or Hard or Soft White Wheat). - Mixed Wheat: Hard Red Winter Wheat with more than ten percent Contrasting Classes (Durum and/or Hard or Soft White Wheat). Mixtures of Hard Red Spring and/or Soft Red Winter Wheat at more than ten percent will also cause mixed wheat, however these will not be used in the contest due to the difficulty of distinguishing them, especially if damaged. Determination of mixtures of classes: The classes (colors) of corn, soybeans and sorghum not matching the master sample, and of Contrasting Classes (Hard and Soft White Wheat and Durum Wheat) in Hard Red Winter Wheat, may be shown as visual factors on the grading cards. Representative market classes for corn, soybeans, sorghum and wheat are included on the ID list. Other classes may also be given as a card factor. Visual class factors such as heat-damaged or mold-damaged kernels in which the color or class is not distinct and easily determined should be considered as the same class as the master sample, and not included as mixed. Definitions of market classes will be provided to contestants with the grade requirement tables. WRITING THE GRADE DESIGNATION and DETERMINING FACTORS In order to get full credit, the grade designation must be correctly written. It consists of two parts: the grade designation itself and the determining factors. See the examples written

15 on an official answer form, which go with the practice problems at the end of this section. The Grade Designation is written as follows on the left-handed side:. The numerical grade preceded by the abbreviations "U.S. No." or "U.S. Sample Grade" -- whichever applies.. The name of the class and kind of grain (such as "Hard Red Winter Wheat", "White Sorghum" or "Mixed Corn").. The Special Grade terms which apply (such as "Infested" or "Smutty"), following a comma after the name of the kind of grain. The Determining Factor or Factors written on the right-handed side are:. The column headings in the grade requirement charts such as "Test Weight Per Bushel", "Damaged Kernels (Total)", or "Defects (Total)" which cause the sample to be placed in the numerical (or sample) grade listed on the left.. Factors causing the grain to be graded Sample Grade if appropriate, such as "Musty", "Heating", "Animal Filth", or "Commercially Objectionable Foreign Odor". All factors which determine the grade chosen should be listed. No factors are given for a sample grading U.S. No.. The maximum number of determining factors will be four. Percentages (or lbs for Test Weight Per Bushel) should be stated for each factor in parentheses immediately following. For examples of correctly written grade designations, see the completed official grain grading form on page which follows the examples.

16 Commercial Grain Grading Answer Sheet Contestant No. Total Score Contestant Name Sample No. Complete Grade Designation Factor or Factors

17 Grade GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR CORN Maximum Limits of Minimum Broken Corn Test Weight Heat-damaged Damaged Kernels and Foreign Per Bushel Kernels (Total) Material Lbs. % % % U.S. No..... U.S. No..... U.S. No..... U.S. No..... U.S. No..... U.S. Sample Grade shall be designated for corn that: a) Exceeds the limitations of U.S. No. for any of the above factors; or b) Contains, in a gram sample: or more stones; or more castorbeans; or more cockleburs; or more pieces of glass; or more crotalaria seeds; or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or other pieces of animal filth; or c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (does not include smut or garlic odor); or d) Is heating, contains any commonly recognized harmful or toxic foreign substance, or is otherwise of distinctly low quality. SPECIAL GRADES Infested - Infested by live weevils or other live insects injurious to stored grain. MARKET CLASSES Yellow Corn - Kernels yellow or yellow with reddish areas, containing not more than five percent of white, red, or other colored kernels. White Corn - Kernels white or white with pink or yellow tinges with not more than two percent of yellow or other colored kernels. Mixed Corn - Any sample that does not meet the requirements for the classes Yellow Corn or White Corn. DEFINITIONS Heat-damaged Kernels - Heat-damaged kernels of corn only. Damaged Kernels (Total) - Kernels of corn only which are damaged by insects, mold, sprouting, disease, or other factors, including heat-damaged kernels. Broken Corn and Foreign Material - All broken corn and foreign material screened from the sample, plus all matter other than corn which remains in the sample.

18 GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SOYBEANS Maximum Limits of Grade Minimum Test Weight Per Bushel Heatdamaged Kernels Damaged Kernels (Total) Foreign Soybeans of Material Splits Other Colors Lbs. % % % % % U.S. No. U.S. No U.S. No U.S. No......** U.S. Sample Grade shall be designated for soybeans that: a) Exceeds the limitations of U.S. No. for any of the above factors; or b) Contains, in a gram sample: or more stones; or more castorbeans; or more cockleburs; or more pieces of glass; or more crotalaria seeds; or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or other pieces of animal filth; or c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (does not include smut or garlic odor); or d) Is heating, contains any commonly recognized harmful or toxic foreign substance, or is otherwise of distinctly low quality. SPECIAL GRADES Infested - Infested by live weevils or other live insects injurious to stored grain. Garlicky - Five or more garlic bulblets in grams. MARKET CLASSES Yellow Soybeans - Soybeans with yellow or greenish seed coats with not more than % soybeans of other colors (black or brown). Mixed Soybeans - Soybeans with more than % soybeans of other colors. DEFINITIONS Heat-damaged Kernels - Heat-damaged soybeans only. Damaged Kernels (Total) - Kernels of soybeans only which are damaged by insects, mold, sprouting, disease, or other factors, including heat-damaged kernels. Foreign Material - All foreign material screened from the sample, plus all matter other than soybeans which remains in the sample. Splits - Broken pieces of soybeans that are not otherwise damaged. Soybeans of Other Colors - Soybeans with black or brown seed coats.

19 Grade Minimum Test Weight Per Bushel GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SORGHUM Maximum Limits of Heatdamaged Kernels Damaged Kernels (Total) Foreign Material Broken Kernels and Foreign Material Lbs. % % % % U.S. No U.S. No U.S. No U.S. No U.S. Sample Grade shall be designated for sorghum that: a) Exceeds the limitations of U.S. No. for any of the above factors; or b) Contains, in a gram sample: or more stones; or more castorbeans; or more cockleburs; or more pieces of glass; or more crotalaria seeds; or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or other pieces of animal filth; or c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (does not include smut or garlic odor); or d) Is heating, contains any commonly recognized harmful or toxic foreign substance, or is otherwise of distinctly low quality. SPECIAL GRADES Infested - Infested by live weevils or other live insects injurious to stored grain. Smutty - Covered with smut spores, or contains or more smut masses in grams. MARKET CLASSES Sorghum - Sorghum with white subcoats and yellow, yellow-red, orange-red, salmon-pink, reddish or white pericarps, or white pericarps with black or reddish spots, with not more than three percent of tannin sorghum. Tannin Sorghum - Sorghum with brown subcoats (tannin sorghum used in the contest will have only brown pericarps also) with not more than ten percent of sorghum of other colors. White Sorghum - Sorghum with white pericarps with not more than two percent of sorghum of other colors. White sorghum with more than two percent sorghum (yellow, red, orange or salmon pericarps) and less than three percent tannin sorghum is classified as "Sorghum". Mixed Sorghum - Sorghum and/or white sorghum with more than three percent tannin sorghum or tannin sorghum with more than ten percent of other colors. DEFINITIONS Heat-damaged Kernels - Heat-damaged kernels of sorghum and other grains. Damaged Kernels (Total) - Kernels of sorghum and other grains which are damaged by insects, mold, sprouting, disease, or other factors, including heat-damaged kernels. Foreign Material - All foreign material screened from the sample, plus all matter other than sorghum which remains in the sample. Broken Kernels and Foreign Material - All broken kernels screened from the sample plus all foreign material as defined above.

20 Grade Minimum Test Weight Per Bushel GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR WHEAT Maximum Limits of Shrunken Heat- Damaged and damaged Kernels Foreign Broken Kernels (Total) Material Kernels Defects (Total) Contrasting Classes Lbs. % % % % % % U.S. No U.S. No U.S. No U.S. No ** U.S. No U.S. Sample Grade shall be designated for wheat that: a) Exceeds the limitations of U.S. No. for any of the above factors; or b) Contains, in a gram sample: or more stones; or more castorbeans; or more cockleburs; or more pieces of glass; or more crotalaria seeds; or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or other pieces of animal filth; or c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (does not include smut or garlic odor); or d) Is heating, contains any commonly recognized harmful or toxic foreign substance, or is otherwise of distinctly low quality. **A sample with more than ten percent Contrasting Classes shall be classified Mixed Wheat and shall be graded with the factor Contrasting Classes disregarded. SPECIAL GRADES Light smutty - Strong odor of smut or to smut ball in grams. Smutty - More than smut balls in grams. Garlicky - More than garlic bulblets in grams. Infested - Infested by live weevils or other live insects injurious to stored grain. MARKET CLASSES Hard Red Winter Wheat - Hard Red Winter Wheat with not more than ten percent of wheat of contrasting classes (Durum Wheat and/or White Wheat). Mixed Wheat - Hard Red Winter Wheat with more than ten percent of wheat of contrasting classes. DEFINITIONS Heat-damaged Kernels - Heat-damaged kernels of wheat and other grains. Damaged Kernels (Total) - Kernels of wheat and other grains which are damaged by insects, mold, sprouting, disease, or other factors, including heat-damaged kernels. Foreign Material - All foreign material other than wheat which remains in the sample after removal of Shrunken and Broken Kernels. Defects (Total) - The sum of Damaged Kernels (Total), Foreign Material, and Shrunken and Broken Kernels. Contrasting Classes - Durum Wheat and/or White Wheat in Hard Red Winter Wheat

21 EXAMPLES Note: The correctly written grade designations and determining factors for these examples are given on the following page.. Sample of Hard Red Winter Wheat. Card Factors Visual Factors Test Weight Per Bushel. lbs. Heat-damaged HRW wheat.% garlic bulblets in grams Sprout-damaged HRW wheat.% stones in grams Mold-damaged soybeans.% Shrunken and Broken Kernels.% Undamaged Durum Wheat.% Odor of Smut Note: Four or more stones are required for Sample Grade; Damaged Kernels (Total) (including other grains), Foreign Material, and Shrunken and Broken Kernels must be added together to obtain Defects (Total); Mold-damaged soybeans must be added to Sprout-damaged and Heat-damaged wheat to obtain Damaged Kernels (Total), and added again as Foreign Material; garlic bulblets causes special grade "Garlicky"; odor of smut causes special grade "Light Smutty.". Sample of Yellow Corn. Card Factors Visual Factors Test Weight Per Bushel.lbs. Insect-damaged corn.% Kerosene odor Heat-damaged corn.% Broken Corn and Foreign Material sieved out.% Undamaged white corn.% cockleburs in grams live weevils Note: Insect damage and heat damage must be added together to obtain Damaged Kernels (Total) which is off table for Sample Grade; presence of live weevils causes special grade "Infested";.% white corn in yellow corn causes class "Mixed"; Kerosene odor is Commercially Objectionable; cockleburs exceeds the limit for Sample Grade.. Sample of Sorghum. Card Factors Visual Factors Test Weight Per Bushel lbs Insect-damaged sorghum.% Dead insect bodies Sprout-damaged wheat.% Kernels covered with smut spores Giant ragweed seed.% Foreign Material sieved out.% Undamaged white sorghum.% Broken Kernels sieved out.% Undamaged tannin sorghum.% Note: Damaged wheat must be added to damaged sorghum for Damaged Kernels (Total); wheat and giant ragweed must be added to foreign material sieved out to get Foreign Material, which is then added to broken kernels sieved out to get Broken Kernels and Foreign Material; presence of smut spores causes special grade "Smutty";.% tannin sorghum in sorghum is not enough to cause class Mixed; any amount of white kernels are allowed in sorghum, thus class remains "Sorghum"; insects must be live to cause Infested special grade.. Sample Yellow Soybeans Card Factors Visual Factors Test Weight Per Bushel lbs Mold-damaged yellow soybeans.% Odor of garlic Heat-damaged corn.% Foreign Material sieved out.% Undamaged black soybeans.% mouse pellets per grams Note: Damaged corn is not included as damaged kernels in soybeans; the corn is Foreign Material and must be added to sieved Foreign Material; the black soybeans are Soybeans of Other Colors, but exceed %

22 making class "Mixed", thus Soybeans of Other Colors column is disregarded; strong garlic smell does not cause special grade "Garlicky", there must be garlic bulblets; pieces of animal filth are needed to make Sample Grade Examples of proper abbreviations Factor Total Other Material Test weight Damaged kernels (total) Foreign material Heat damage Wheat of other classes Contrasting Classes Broken corn and foreign material Commercially Objectionable Foreign Odor Shrunken and broken kernels TOM TW DKT FM HT WOCL CCL BCFM COFO SHBN Correct Abbreviation

23 Example Answers Commercial Grain Grading Contestant No. Total Score Contestant Name (NOTE: The following designations and factors are for the examples on the previous page.) Sample No. Complete Grade Designation Factor or Factors U.S. No. Hard Red Winter Wheat, Garlicky, Light Smutty U.S. Sample Grade Mixed Corn, Infested U.S. No. Sorghum, Smutty U.S. No. Mixed Soybeans Heat-damaged Kernels (.%) Contrasting Classes (.%) Defects (Total) (.%) Commercially Objectionable Foreign Odor Cockleburs Damaged Kernels (Total) (.%) Damaged Kernels (Total) (.%) Foreign Material (.) Broken Kernels and Foreign Material (.%) Test Weight Per Bushel (. lbs.) Foreign Material (.%)

24 Grain Grading worksheet Wheat Factor %Lbs` Grade Test weight per bushel Heat Damaged Kernels Damaged Kernels (total) Foreign Material Shrunken and Broken Kernels Defects (Total) Contrasting classes Stones Castorbeans Cockleburs Glass Crotalaria Seeds Rodent Pellets Bird Droppings Animal filth Musty Odor Sour Odor Commercially Objectionable Foreign Odor Heating Harmful or Toxic Substance Distinctly low quality Market class Hard Red Winter Wheat Mixed wheat Special grades Infested Light smutty Smutty Garlicky Sorghum Factor %Lbs` Grade Test weight per bushel Heat Damaged Kernels Damaged Kernels (total) Foreign Material Broken kernels and Foreign Material Stones Castorbeans Cockleburs Glass Crotalaria Seeds Rodent Pellets Bird Droppings Animal filth Musty Odor Sour Odor Commercially Objectionable Foreign Odor Heating Harmful or Toxic Substance Distinctly low quality Market class Sorghum Tannin sorghum Special grades Infested White sorghum Smutty Mixed sorghum

25 Soybeans Factor %Lbs` Grade Test weight per bushel Heat Damaged Kernels Damaged Kernels (total) Foreign Material Splits Soybeans of Other Colors Stones Castorbeans Cockleburs Glass Crotalaria Seeds Rodent Pellets Bird Droppings Animal filth Musty Odor Sour Odor Commercially Objectionable Foreign Odor Heating Harmful or Toxic Substance Distinctly low quality Market class Yellow corn White corn Mixed corn Special grades Infested Garlicky Corn Factor %Lbs` Grade Test weight per bushel Heat Damaged Kernels Damaged Kernels (total) Broken corn and foreign material Stones Castorbeans Cockleburs Glass Crotalaria Seeds Rodent Pellets Bird Droppings Animal filth Musty Odor Sour Odor Commercially Objectionable Foreign Odor Heating Harmful or Toxic Substance Distinctly low quality Market class Yellow corn White corn Mixed corn Special grades Infested

26 APPENDIX C FFA Agronomy CDE Knowledge Exam Study Questions What is agronomy? A. the study of soil and crop management B. the study of crop improvement C. the study of general agriculture D. the study of the stars On a plant stem, what is the space between two nodes called? A. blade B. collar C. internode D. spike What is the name of the stalk that attaches a leaf to the stem of a broad-leafed plant? A. culm B. internode C. petiole D. sheath To which category to the crops wheat, barley, oat, and rye belong? A. small grain crops B. oilseed crops C. root crops D. fiber crops To which plant family does wheat belong? A. Compositae B. Gramineae C. Leguminoseae D. Malvaceae To which plant family does canola belong? A. Crucifereae B. Gramineae C. Leguminoseae D. Malvaceae To which plant family does alfalfa belong? A. Crucifereae

27 B. Gramineae C. Leguminoseae D. Malvaceae To which plant family does peanut belong? A. Crucifereae B. Gramineae C. Leguminoseae D. Malvaceae What is the scientific name of alfalfa? A. Alfalfa B. Medicago sativa C. Trefoil repens D. Zea mays What is the scientific name of corn? A. Glycine max B. Medicago sativa C. Triticum aestevium D. Zea mays What is the scientific name of soybean? A. Glycine max B. Soja max C. Trifoilium repense D. Gossypium hirsutum What is the scientific name of peanut? A. Medicago sativa B. Arachis hypogaea C. Glycine max D. Triticum aestevium What is the scientific name of cotton? A. Brassica napus B. Arachis hypogaea C. Zea mays D. Gossypium hirsutum What is the scientific name of wheat? A. Triticum aestevium B. Zea mays C. Glycine max D. Brassica napus

28 Peanut production in the United States increased rapidly during the early s when the boll weevil caused serious damage to which crop? A. Cotton B. Potato C. Rice D. Tobacco What is a microscopic, slender, round worm that lives in the soil? A. Bacteria B. Fungi C. Nematode D. Virus What is reached when a pest infestation reaches the point where the potential loss exceeds the cost of a chemical application? A. Danger B. Economic Threshold C. I.P.M. D. Spray Point On which plant part do aphids feed? A. Flowers B. Leaves C. Plant sap D. Roots What is the most common beneficial insect species associated with crop production? A. Lady beetle B. Parasitic wasp C. Praying mantis D. Walking stick What is the localized death of leaf tissue termed? A. Chlorosis B. Firing C. Necrosis D. Rusting Which organism causes most plant diseases? A. Bacteria B. Fungi C. Nematodes D. Virus