The Agronomy Challenge is a competitive event for students enrolled in two-year Agriculture diploma programs across Western Canada.
Teams will compete in agronomy-focused challenges to showcase their skills and knowledge. The inaugural competition will be held on April 10-12, 2026 at The Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment, Assiniboine College, Brandon, Manitoba. The location and host will rotate each year. The Prairie Certified Crop Advisers (PCCA) has organized the event in collaboration with participating educational institutions and industry partners.
Do teams require a faculty member to attend the competition with them?
Yes, each team must have a faculty coach/lead or representative to support them throughout the competition.
Will faculty members have an official role in the competition?
Faculty members act as team coaches and may also participate in training their students leading up to the event. However, they will not be involved in the competitions or judging.
How can we ensure institutional involvement?
An Agronomy Challenge Committee will be established, aiming to include a representative from the current and future host institutions.
How do we choose our team?
Each school can decide the best way to choose which students will comprise the team. This could include mini competitions within the school. Have fun with it! Remind students that they will need to commit to training in all competency areas.
Competition Details
Each category will be a variety of agronomic theory, math and lab practical skills. The following topics are a sample of the topics that may be included. A complete guide containing competition rules and topics will be provided in future communication.
Each competition will recognize individual top scorers, and all participant scores will contribute to their team’s final ranking. The highest-scoring team will be awarded the title of Canadian Prairies Agronomy Challenge Champion.
Agricultural Education
- Teams develop and deliver a 10-minute educational lesson on an Agriculture topic to group of mock students.
- The topic will be revealed to the contestants at the beginning of their 60-minute preparation time.
Integrated Pest Management
- Pest problems and pest control (insects, diseases, and weeds, biology/life cycle of major crop pests)
- Herbicide management (classification of herbicides, crop injury symptoms, managing herbicide resistance, herbicide programs, application timing terminology and strategies)
- Pest management alternatives (cultural and biological control practices, IPM principles, pest scouting and monitoring, role of beneficials, etc.)
- Pesticide use and management (pesticide stewardship, safety, restrictions, formulations, adjuvants, trade/common names of major pesticides, etc.)
- Identify and stage common weed species in all stages
- Identify common crop diseases and disease symptoms
- Identify common crop insects and insect damage
- Pesticide calculations, economic thresholds etc.
Crop Management
- Crop production statistics (major world and prairie crops) and distribution of Canadian crop production
- Crop classification terms (botanical, growth habit, crop utilization, )
- Crop physiology, growth, and development
- Crop quality and quality evaluation, including typical levels for important quality factors in various grain and forage crops
- Seed and plant morphology and anatomy
- Plant breeding and genetics, including biotechnology and genetic engineering tools and applications
- Seed industry/technology (seed quality, seed certification, testing, processing, treatment, intellectual property rights, etc.)
- Planting (cultivar selection, seeding equipment, planting practices, seed treatment, seeding dates, replanting decisions, etc.)
- Harvesting and storage of grain and forage crops and crop products
- Management of forage crops, including harvest factors and effects on forage quality, comparison of tame pasture systems (grasses, legumes, mixtures), native range management, evaluating forage quality (protein, NDF, ADF, TDN), grazing management, cutting schedules
- Cropping systems and crop rotations
- Climate and crop environment (light, temperature, and moisture effects on plants, weather and weather patterns, earth’s energy balance, climate change, global temperature and CO2 levels)
- Weather and climate effects on crop production and management decisions
- Identify and stage crops
Soil and Water Management
- Basic soil properties (physical, chemical, and biological)
- Managing soil pH, lime and liming, description and management of saline and sodic soils
- Soil water management (irrigation, drainage, erosion, leaching, evapotranspiration, conservation, etc.)
- Tillage and residue management (tillage systems, seedbed preparation, tillage tool selection, etc.)
- Site specific management concepts (GPS, GIS, variable rate technology, guidance, row and boom control, grid sampling, field mapping, sensing technology, NDVI mapping, etc.)
- Managing temperature (effects of cover and tillage on soil temperature)
- Carbon management in agriculture (greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration, carbon credits)
- Tillage and field operations (time required, field efficiency, cost per acre, labor and fuel costs)
- Soil erosion loss equation
- Soil physical properties (bulk density, % soil moisture, water retention in profile)
Nutrient Management
- Soil fertility (nutrient availability, nutrient movement, factors affecting nutrient loss, plant needs for nutrients, soil pH, organic matter, etc.)
- Nutrient management (soil testing, soil test reports/recommendations, fertilizers and fertilization, fertilizer application and nutrient stewardship, four R’s – source, rate, timing, placement)
- Fertilizer/lime application (Spreader calibration given amount delivered in a distance traveled or by turning the drive wheel; Fertilizer application rates given carrier analysis and recommended rates in elemental or oxide form or replacement of nutrients removed by the crop; Prepare bulk blends from given rates and available carriers; Calculate costs of fertilizer/lime application; Compare costs of different fertilizers/lime sources)
- Recognize common nutrient deficiency symptoms (N, P, K, S, Fe) on both dicot and grass crops
- Fertilizer calculations and recommendations
Awards and Recognition
What prizes are awarded?
- Prizes are still to be determined but will likely be a combination of trophies and monetary awards depending on sponsor response.
- The PCCA board would like to recognize the top three teams (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) as well as the top individuals in each category.
Will there be opportunities for industry exposure?
Yes, students will compete in front of industry professionals, providing an opportunity to showcase their skills to potential employers and mentors.
Hosting & Sponsorship
Will the competition location change each year?
Yes, the host institution will rotate annually. Institutions interested in hosting should inform their Provincial CCA representative.
How can schools and companies support the event?
Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies, schools, alumni, and suppliers. A sponsorship letter will be developed to secure funding and support.
Registration and Cost
What are the registration requirements?
- Teams must register by January 30, 2026.
- Each team consists of four student competitors and one coach.
- Institutions should identify faculty and alumni to support team training.
What are the participation costs?
- Competition fees: $40 per student per challenge ($200 per student total).
- Teams are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements.
- Meals will be provided during competition events.
Registration Form
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For More Information
Teams should reach out to their Provincial CCA representative for assistance with registration, study materials, and training support.
Manitoba
Gary Topham
Phone: (204) 867-0067
Email: gary.topham@nutrien.com
Saskatchewan
Nathan Trowell
Phone: (306) 897-8363
Email: nathan.trowell@nutrien.com
Alberta
George Lubberts
Phone: (403) 635-7117
Email: george@completeagservices.com