The Niab Agronomy Cup was an annual unique trials-based crop challenge begun in 2012 and finishing in 2019. It aimed to engage with the next generation of agricultural advisors and crop scientists whilst showcasing practical agronomic science and crop research.
The Cup was open to agriculture and crop science students from universities and colleges across the UK, and based on the outcome of a team’s agronomy, farm management and agricultural decision-making skills.
But it differed from other crop trial competitions as these agronomic decisions were tested on fully-replicated field plots at a Niab trials site local to the team, rather than as a desk-based challenge or at a single central location. In this way the competition emphasised the importance of field observations, basing decisions on those observations and then understanding and interpreting the results from field trials. It also showed how local conditions led to differing agronomic decisions compared to a national view.
Winners
2019 - IBERS - Aberystwyth University
2018 - IBERS - Aberystwyth University
2017 - IBERS - Aberystwyth University
2016 - Duchy College
2015 - Newcastle University
2014 - Royal Agricultural University
2013 - Easton and Otley College
2012 - Harper Adams University