Ceres Rural Crop Challenge, in association with the AICC: A University Agronomy Competition

Providing hands-on, real world experience in crop management, the Ceres Rural Crop Challenge offers agricultural students from leading universities the opportunity to compete in growing and managing a winter wheat crop.

This is a rare opportunity to manage a wheat trial plot, where each team will have control of agronomic decision-making, from selecting fungicides to apply, optimising trace elements and fertiliser use.

The winning team will be announced and awarded during the first day of the Cereals 2026.

 

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In partnership with

Ceres Rural
AICC
 

 

 

Competing Colleges

The Crop Challenge is designed to test not only the students' technical knowledge, but also their ability to make informed, practical decisions in the field.  The competitors this year are:

  1. Royal Agricultural University
  2. Aberystwyth
  3. Hartpury
  4. Harper Adams
  5. Reading
  6. Nottingham

The competition provides a fantastic platform for students to showcase their skills, test their knowledge, and learn from their peers and experts in the field.

How the Competition Works 

Six teams of a maximum of four students, will be responsible for the management of a wheat crop through the spring growing season, with an expectation to:

  • Develop and implement a crop management plan.
  • Decide on the timing and application of crop protection inputs, such as fungicides, growth regulators, trace elements, together with a crop nutrition strategy.
  • Respond to seasonal conditions to aid the crop’s development throughout the season.
  • Provide recommendations through the spring at key timings. There will be no requirement to visit the site regularly, the teams will be kept updated throughout.

The Crop Challenge is designed to test not only the students' technical knowledge, but also their ability to make informed, practical decisions in the field.

Judging Criteria 

The teams will be judged by an independent agronomy panel from the AICC and Ceres Rural, including Charlie Ireland. Three key areas will be considered:

  • Agronomic decision-making: How well your team responds to real-world challenges.
  • Clarity of communication: The ability to clearly explain and justify your decisions.
  • Overall team input: How well your team collaborates and contributes to the crop’s success.

Prizes and Recognition 

The winning team will be announced and awarded during the first day of the Cereals 2026.

This prestigious event will bring together top professionals from across the arable industry, offering participants the chance to gain valuable recognition and exposure for their achievements, with prizes including:

  • Certificates will be presented to the winning team
  • Tickets awarded to the Cereals 2027 Event
  • Afree pass to the AICC National Conference Dinner, overnight and industry day.

 

What’s in it for the teams? 

Not only will your students gain invaluable practical experience, but they will also be able to:

  • Compete against top agricultural universities and colleges.
  • Receive feedback from and discuss career options and opportunities with industry-leading agronomists and professionals.
  • Build networks within the agricultural community.
  • Demonstrate their expertise in a real-world scenario.
  • Present their work at Cereals 2026, one of the largest arable events in Europe.